Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns Police Violence That Targets Journalists Who Cover Student Protests Against The Appointment Of A New Rector Of Boğaziçi University.
Location: Turkey
Date: February 3, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Students protested the appointment of Prof. Dr. Melih Bulu as the new rector of Bogazici Unversity by the Turkish Presidency in Kadıköy yesterday. Many journalists were subjected to police violence while following the protests. Elif Akgül, Board Member of The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), was attacked physically by the police.
Students who were protesting the appointment of Melih Bulu as the new rector of Bogazici University by the Turkish Presdency were subjected to police violence in Kadıköy yesterday. Both students and journalists were fired with plastic bullets and gas at the protest of the students. 51 students were detained and many of them got injured after the police attack.
Solidarity for Bogazici announced on Twitter that students will protest the appointment in Kadıköy at 6 PM Turkey time. It was said that they will support students of Bogazici Univerity and protest the appointment of Prof. Dr. Melih Bulu as the new rector.
The journalists following the protests in Kadıköy were also subjected to physical violence by the police, attempted to be detained and fired with plastic bullets and gas. Elif Akgül, Board Member of The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), was attacked physically by the police. The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey condemned the violence against Elif on Twitter.
CFWIJ is following protests with great concern. Journalists cannot be attacked by the police just because of practicing journalism. We condemn the attacks and urge authorities to ensure journalists’ and students’ safety immediately.
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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.
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