Turkey: CFWIJ Demands An End To Police Brutality Against Journalists
Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: July 5, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Journalists Büşra Taşkıran and Berna Kişin were physically assaulted by the police while covering demonstrations at Sincan Prison demanding the release of The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Faruk Gergerlioğlu. The police deliberately attacked journalists. Journalists' mobile phones and equipment were sought to be confiscated.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) closely monitors the escalating police violence against journalists with great concern. We call on the Turkish authorities to end police brutality against journalists. Journalists are obliged to follow the developments of interest to the public. Journalistic activities cannot be obstructed. These practices are a vicious attack on the free press and freedom of expression.
Despite the 'violation of rights' decision by the Constitutional Court (AYM), HDP deputy Faruk Gergerlioğlu remains behind bars in Ankara Sincan Prison. Today, during the demonstration demanding his release, Doğrusu News reporter Büşra Taşkıran and Mesopotamia Agency’s (MA) Berna Kişin were beaten with force while covering it. Journalists were impeded in the scene and their mobile phones and equipment were sought to be confiscated. Police took Artı TV cameraman Nazım Fayık to custody.
Doğrusu News reporter Büşra Taşkıran took to her Twitter account about the harsh intervention of the police against journalists.
Speaking to CFWIJ, Büşra said that the security forces attempted to detain her but lawyers stopped them from detaining her. Stating that she took a report from the hospital about the police attack she faced. She also included that she would file a criminal complaint against the police officers who used violence.
Also, MA reporter Berna Kişin told CFWIJ that the police impeded by preventing the journalists from filming the incident. Berna added that police seized journalists' equipment for a while.
Today, five people, including Faruk Gergerlioğlu's son Salih Gergerlioğlu, were taken to custody. Arti TV cameraman Nazım Fayık was also one of them.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely follows the increasing police violence in Turkey with great concern. The most fundamental duty of journalists is to follow the developments that interest the public. None of the journalists can be impeded solely because of doing their job. No one can be subjected to physical violence because of their journalistic activities. We demand the Turkish authorities to end these brutal practices against press freedom. We reiterate that 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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