More than 100 women and LGBTQ+ journalists in Turkey have declared their support for the latest wave of MeToo-style allegations, saying they will stand with survivors and continue to report on gender inequality, harassment and violence.
The joint statement, signed by 102 journalists from various outlets as well as freelancers, came after a surge of accusations on social media in August that named well-known figures in photography, film, television, comedy, literature and schools.
The uproar recalls the global reckoning that began in the United States in 2017 and echoes Turkey’s own first burst of MeToo stories in 2020, when writers were accused of abuse and 62 nongovernmental groups issued a joint statement in support of survivors.
This year, the scope is broader, reaching nearly every corner of cultural and educational life.
“Our profession, our pen and our lens are on the side of justice, equality and women,” the signatories said. They condemned attempts to dismiss the disclosures as a “witch hunt” or to blame victims rather than investigate allegations.
The statement stressed that public testimonials are “vital for a safer and more equal life” and pledged not to collaborate with any individual exposed in the recent wave.
The journalists also voiced support for those unable to speak out. “We are on the side of all women who cannot talk about the harassment and violence they experience, who get lost in the spiral of silence imposed by society, whose cries are muffled by the culture of silence that permeates us,” they wrote.
Signatories included television presenter İrfan Değirmenci, documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin and dozens of reporters and editors from independent outlets.