Turkey: The Fifth Police Attack Against Journalist Fatoş Erdoğan, CFWIJ Strongly Condemns The Police Violence
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: June 7, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Dokuz8Haber reporter Fatoş Erdoğan was physically assaulted by the police during the protest she followed in Kadıköy, Istanbul. She was also deliberately prevented from filming the event. Fatoş was physically and verbally attacked for the fifth time as The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) documented. We condemn police violence and demand the security forces ensure the journalists' safety instead of attacking them. Journalists' right to report cannot be avoided.
Journalist Fatoş Erdoğan, who was following the demonstration held in Kadıköy on June 5, was extorted by the police. The journalist was prevented from covering the event. Journalist and Turkish Workers' Party (TIP) Member of Parliament Ahmet Şık, was also beaten during the protest.
The video of Fatoş’s shows the police violence against her. The journalist and MP were both pushed and intervened by the police.
The Dokuz8Haber reporter has been subjected to police violence many times while covering the events in İstanbul. She was intervened by the police while covering the student protests on May 27. The students who protested Israeli attacks against Palestine, detained later citing General Information Scan (GBT) as a reason. When journalists followed the incident, police prevented them from the scene, giving the Directorate General of Security (EGM) directive as an excuse.
On March 26, police intervened with Dokuz8Haber reporter Fatoş Erdoğan, while she was filming the detentions of students. In the video, Fatoş was prevented from filming saying by police, "Getaway, the press is forbidden". The journalist was also pushed.
On March 8, International Women's Day, the police officer threatened Fatoş by saying “I would tear you up into pieces”.
While trying to protect the detainees in Kadıköy, journalist & Workers Party of Turkey deputy Ahmet Şık was subjected to police violence.
— dokuz8NEWS (@dokuz8news) June 6, 2021
Police also beat our correspondent Fatoş Erdoğan while covering the news.#dokuz8/@puleragema pic.twitter.com/hp6H34OPIe
On February 20, police interfered with five female reporters including Fatoş, 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 documented the fifth case in 2021 of the aforementioned attack against journalist Fatoş Erdoğan. We are deeply concerned about the escalating police violence against journalists in Turkey. We demand the Turkish authorities to provide a free and safe environment instead of preventing them from doing their jobs. We condemn the police violence against journalists whose most basic right is to follow and cover the events.
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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