Women journalists' coalition condemns Turkish media's anti-Semitic attacks on Karel Valansi

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemned the anti-Semitic attacks on columnist Karel Valansi carried out by several media outlets. The columnist was dubbed a "foreigner" in an article in the daily Takvim and was openly targeted by telling readers to "never forget" her name.

Thursday May 20 2021 12:38 pm

Duvar English

The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemned recent news articles in Turkish media that involved blatant anti-Semitic attacks on columnist Karel Valansi in a statement dated May 19.

Valansi was recently attacked by pro-government daily Takvim in a news story that dubbed the Turkish-Jewish columnist as a "foreigner," presented her work as criminal activity and even told readers to "never forget" her name.

"The news outlets accused Karel of protecting Israel over the journalist posts on her social media about the developments regarding the airstrikes carried out by Israel," said CFWIJ in an official statement.

The CFWIJ also noted that Valansi was targeted by similar pro-government dailies following an interaction with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu about the Jewish martyrs of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War 1 that spread from 1915 to 1916.

"We stand with Karel and demand an apology. Nobody's religion, language or race can be the subject of such attacks," CFWIJ said.

Racist and discriminatory attacks are often left unpunished in Turkey, where government officials regularly deploy homophobic rhetoric and Turkish courts have ruled in favor of defendants on trial for racist slurs.