Turkiye: Police Fires Rubber Bullets at Fatoş Erdoğan and Colleagues During May Day Protests
Women Press Freedom worryingly documents deliberate targeting of journalists by Istanbul police
Location: Turkiye, Istanbul
Date: May 1, 2024
Women Press Freedom expresses deep concern over the actions of Turkish authorities during the May Day march in Istanbul's Saraçhane district. Police obstructed, tear-gassed, and shot at journalists covering the event, endangering their safety. Dokuz8 Haber’s Fatoş Erdoğan and Umut Taştan, a reporter for KRT TV, were among those injured during the police crackdown. Women Press Freedom has documented the excessive use of force by police through videos from the event and is troubled by officers deliberately targeting journalists. We vehemently condemn the aggressive actions of the riot police; journalists must be allowed to cover events in the public interest safely. We demand a transparent investigation into the behavior of officers and urge Turkish authorities to allow the press to work without violence, intimidation, or fear of reprisal.
On May 1, 2024, during a May Day march in Istanbul, police used aggressive tactics against protestors and journalists, violating press freedom and the right to peaceful assembly, Women Press Freedom finds. Police blocked march routes, fired tear gas and rubber bullets, and detained hundreds of protestors. Reporters in the Beşiktaş district were obstructed by police while covering arrests, with one officer allegedly ordering others to "sweep the press."
Fatoş Erdoğan, a reporter for outlet Dokuz8 Haber, and KRT TV reporter Umut Taştan were among those injured during the police crackdown. Erdoğan recounted being shot in the leg with a rubber bullet, while Taştan was shot in the foot. Erdoğan was forcibly removed from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality premises by police, as captured on video, but says she would not file a criminal complaint due to past experiences with law enforcement.
Women Press Freedom has extensively documented instances of violence against Erdoğan, notably a previous assault by a police officer during coverage of a Saturday Mothers demonstration in July 2023. Regrettably, Erdoğan's experiences are not isolated, reflecting a broader pattern of aggression against journalists in Turkiye, particularly those covering government-critical demonstrations.
The ban on May Day celebrations in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, dating back to 1980, persists despite brief allowances in 2010. President Erdoğan's recent remarks regarding Taksim Square as an unsuitable location for political rallies exacerbate concerns about freedom of assembly and expression in Turkiye.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the assault against Fatoş Erdoğan and her colleague and wishes them swift recovery from their injuries. Erdoğan has experienced multiple incidents of police violence while reporting and has received little recourse from filing complaints against officers. Police must be held accountable for attacking journalists. We demand that Turkish authorities respect press freedom, protect journalists, and uphold citizens' rights to peaceful protest.
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