Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: April 28, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

Police attacked the gathering of the Sinbo and SML Label workers to ban May 1, Labour Day organisations. 40 people were detained, including Jin News reporter Sena Dollar and Kızıl Bayrak reporter Kardelen Yoğungan. The reporters were also battered by the police. Both journalists were released after their testimonies were taken. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the increasing police violence on journalists. We demand Turkish authorities to provide an environment where journalists can report safely and freely.

Police intervened with Sinbo and SML Label workers while issuing the press statement about restrictions of Labour Day on May 1. Jin News reporter Sena Dollars and Kızıl Bayrak’s Kardelen Yoğungan, who was at the scene to follow the event, were beaten and detained along with 40 people. With this detention, Kardelen Yoğungan has been detained twice over the last ten days.

According to Jin News, 40 people who were taken to the Istanbul Police Station after the health control, were subjected to police violence again. In addition, Jin News reporter Sena Dollar had injured her finger as a result of the police violence.

As CFWIJ, we have recorded at least five cases of physical assault and detention of women journalists in Turkey within the last ten days. Kızıl Bayrak’s reporter Kardelen Yoğungan has been detained twice and subjected to physical attacks while covering the news.

On April 19, Kardelen Yoğungan and Mücadele Birliği reporter Serpil Ünal were detained while covering another event of workers. Sinbo workers, who were dismissed because of their union membership in Istanbul, wanted to protest their situation however, police intervened in the event and detained five people including journalists.

Another event took place in İstanbul on April 21. Police attacked the gathering at Istanbul, Bakırköy Freedom Square to make a statement for May 1 Labour Day. BirGün’s Meral Danyıldız, Kızıl Bayrak reporter Kardelen Yoğungan and journalist Zeynep Kuray were prevented by the police and verbally harassed. Law enforcement, who dispersed the crowd, battered women journalists.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns police violence against our colleagues. One of the most fundamental duties of journalism is to inform the public and report about the developments. We urge the Turkish authorities to respect journalists and implement policies that comply with press freedom. Journalism is not a crime.

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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.