Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns The Police Violence Against Journalists While Covering The Boğaziçi Protests
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: April 1, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Police intervened in the Boğaziçi University’s student protests which took place today in İstanbul. More than 30 students were detained and many journalists including women reporters were deliberately prevented and brutally attacked by the police. At least four women journalists, who were in the scene, were affected by tear gas and beaten. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) strongly condemns police violence against journalists. We demand the Turkish state to provide a safer environment for our colleagues rather than attacking them.
Many students gathered today in İstanbul / Kadıköy to demand their imprisoned friends Şilan Delipalta and Anıl Akyüz to be freed before their trial will be held tomorrow. While about 30 students were detained, many of our colleagues, including female journalists, were prevented from the scene by the police. Journalists were battered. Many journalists were affected by the tear gas on the crowd.
In the footage reflected by Cumhuriyet Newspaper reporter Tuğba Özer was blocked while filming the detainees. In her post on Twitter, she said, “The police intervention continued in the custody vehicle. Journalists were prevented from filming."
Polis müdahalesi gözaltı aracında da devam etti. Gazetecilerin çekim yapması engellendi. #Kadıköy pic.twitter.com/i6vPF2kthn
— Tuğba Özer (@tugbaaozerr) April 1, 2021
Speaking to the CFWIJ, BirGün reporter Meral Danyıldız said that she was not beaten, however, she was verbally abused by the police saying, "Turn off the camera", "Move forward", "Leave this place immediately" The video Meral shared with us, it can be seen that despite showing her press credential and underlining she is a ‘press’ she was stopped filming by the police.
#Turkey: #CFWIJ received this disturbing video from Meral Danyıldız. The journalist was on the ground & recorded brutal police attack on a #woman #journalis during #Boğaziçi University protests in Istanbul/Kadıköy. We condemn this blatant violation of #HumanRights @meraldanyildiz pic.twitter.com/Zwl2MBylQc
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) April 1, 2021
The pressure applied to the female journalist in Turkey, "Especially female journalists are subjected to physical or verbal intervention when filming / is being exposed to violence. We also hear that many female journalists are physically attacked while trying to do their job and scream ‘I am press’ over and over again,” Meral said. “However, these screams are still not heard," she continued.
She summarised that “There is not much difference between a journalist or any citizen in the field. To do our job, we need to make a lot of effort to speak (to police) and we are constantly in a position that we need to convince them. Besides, we have to face intense violence. There are the situations behind the scenes of my colleagues who are brutally violated."
Sendika.Org reporter Derya Saadet, who covered the developments on the grounds, was among those who followed the protest. Speaking to the CFWIJ, Derya said that while she was following the demonstration, although it is not certain, a student or a policeman shook her shoulder. She added that she was also affected by the tear gas.
The official Twitter account of the Sendika.Org shared footage from the scene and clearly, reporter Zeynep Kuray was prevented while filming the students.
Polis Kadıköy'de üniversitelileri ters kelepçe ile gözaltına alındı. Saldırıyı görüntüleyen basın emekçilerini önce gözaltı ile tehdit eden polis, gazetecileri darp ederek alandan uzaklaştırdı. #BundanSonrasıHepimizde pic.twitter.com/hUDDiSEf4W
— sendika.org (@sendika_org) April 1, 2021
The Coalition For Women In Journalism keeps a close eye on the developments in Turkey. Since the beginning of 2021, we documented at least ten female journalists have been beaten while covering in the field, and nine have been detained. We strongly condemn police violence against journalists in the country. We urge the Turkish state to ensure the safety of our colleagues instead of using violence. We reiterate once again that our primary duty as a journalist is to inform the public and that our profession cannot be barred under any circumstances. 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.
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