Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns The Police Violence Against Five Reporters Who Were Covering Press Briefing Of Arrested Women
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: February 20, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Police interfered with five female reporters covering the press briefing of HDP Women's Assemblies at İstanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse. Police told reporters who were removed from the field, "Terrorist supporters, I wish the car crashed on them!”. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the police targeting the journalists and the police violence against them. We do not accept the accusations against journalists carrying out their journalistic coverage. Journalism is not a crime.
Police intervened in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women's Assemblies’ press briefing to draw attention to the violations of rights inflicted on arrested women in Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse. The reporters who followed the news, Sema Turan and Berna Kijin (Mesopotamia Agency), Yağmur Kaya (Artı Gerçek), Fatoş Erdoğan (Dokuz8 News) and Nişmiye Güler (Jin News) were prevented from filming the incident. Police later accused the journalists who were suspended from the field as "pro-PKK" (terrorist supporters).
In the video shared by the news outlet Artı Gerçek, the police told reporter Yağmur Kaya, who was prevented from filming the incident, "I wish the car crashed on these". The journalist asked the police, "If the car is not crushed, will you do it?" In response to the question, the police officer said "Yes".
According to the news, the police prevented the foreign press from taking images and accused the journalist from the Spanish press, asking "Are you an agent?". The press cards of reporters were also frequently asked in the scene by security forces.
Speaking to CFWIJ, Artı Gerçek reporter Yağmur Kaya emphasized that police violence has become more severe since the Boğaziçi University protests. She said, “After the Boğaziçi protests, journalists have been subjected to state violence more.” She underlined that journalists are not allowed to do their job on the ground. “Law enforcement officers try to move us away from the area we go to. If we don’t leave the field, we are threatened with detention," she added.
Yağmur also explained the allegations she faced while following the news yesterday. She said “Frankly, I have been beaten many times before. The police officers smashed my press card and threw it in my face many times too. However, for the first time, I was accused of being a terrorist.” “This is targeting a journalist. As if being prevented from doing our job is not enough, we are also associated with a situation. Why? For writing the truth,” she added.
She also expressed that she is just doing her job. She said, “In other words, I am exposed to threats or violence because I am not the journalist they wanted. I am neither an opposition journalist nor a pro-government one, I am a journalist and I try to do what my profession teaches me.”
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns police violence against journalists. We follow the increasing repression against journalists in Turkey and yet, we are deeply concerned. Covering and following the news on the grounds is the most fundamental right of a journalist and cannot be prevented. We demand the authorities put an end to police violence that overshadows press freedom. Journalism is not a crime.
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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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