Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns Police Brutality Against Journalist Büşra Taşkıran
Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: August 3, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Journalist Büşra Taşkıran was physically assaulted with police force while following the women’s protest for Azra Gülendam Haytaoğlu, 21, and Emine Gökkız, 45, who were brutally murdered. The journalist was deliberately impeded from filming the event and beaten by the police. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the escalating police violence across Turkey. We call the Turkish state to end intimidating journalists by using forges against them. Journalists should freely do their job. The opposite approach is a violation of press freedom.
Police attacked women march in the capital of Ankara, who gathered for 21-year-old Azra Gülendam Haytaoğlu, who was brutally murdered in Antalya, and 45-year-old teacher Emine Gökkız, who was found dead by hanging in the forest in Kahramanmaraş. During the demonstration where 15 women were detained, the police attempted to prevent the journalists from covering the event. Doğrusu News reporter Büşra Taşkıran was subjected to police violence while she was there for the coverage. The journalist was impeded from filming the detained women by the police.
Büşra, who shared the video of the police violence to CFWIJ, said that the police stopped her from filming by being taken from her bag and pushing her. The moments were visible in the video.
#Turkey: Police physically assaulted @dogrusuhaber reporter @taskiranbusra who was covering a women's protest against the killing of 21 years old student #AzraGülendamHaytaoğlu. #CFWIJ condemns the impunity with which the Turkish police is allowed to act & urges global attention. pic.twitter.com/HZLRWPlPHT
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 4, 2021
In Turkey, the impediment against journalists in their journalistic activities continues to escalate. Journalists are exposed to verbal attacks, physical assault and detention attempts while doing their job in the field. According to the CFWIJ's July report, at least 10 women journalists were physically assaulted by security forces.
The latest incident, which took place on the first day of the sacrificial Eid on July 20, 2021, proved the escalating police brutality in the country. Journalists following the commemoration for those killed in the Suruç Massacre were not only besieged by the police but also faced severe physical violence that amounted to injury. At least eight women journalists were physically assaulted by the police. Dokuz8Haber reporter Fatoş Erdoğan was injured by a rubber bullet. Journalist Zeynep Kuray's equipment was broken during the brawl.
As the Coalition For Women In Journalism, we condemn the impediment and police violence against journalist Büşra Taşkıran. Journalism is a public duty and cannot be prevented. We call on Turkish security officials to respect press freedom and end violence against journalists. Journalists should continue to do their job freely and in safe environments.
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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