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.
WPF strongly condemns the ongoing legal proceedings against Gözde Bedeloğlu, a journalist for BirGün, who is currently facing charges of "insulting a public official" in Istanbul, Turkiye, filed by a Nationalist Movement Party politician.
During the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict, the fundamental principles of press freedom have come under dire threat.
WPF welcomes the judgment of the Fair Work Commission that found that broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf was fired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) following a social media post by Lattouf sharing a Human Rights Watch claim about Israel's actions in Gaza.
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."
Polis, Saraçhane’de bulunan İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye binasının bahçesine girdi.
— Ufuk Çeri (@ufukceri) May 1, 2024
Dokuz8 muhabiri Fatoş Erdoğan’ı dışarı çıkarmaya çalıştı.
(@puleragema)#1MAYIS pic.twitter.com/RzO5pq2w80
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.
WPF strongly condemns the ongoing legal proceedings against Gözde Bedeloğlu, a journalist for BirGün, who is currently facing charges of "insulting a public official" in Istanbul, Turkiye, filed by a Nationalist Movement Party politician.
Women Press Freedom stands resolutely in solidarity with Arzu Yıldız, an investigative journalist from Turkiye forced into exile after facing persistent threats and persecution for her work. Yıldız's experience is emblematic of the broader crackdown on press freedom under President Tayyip Erdoğan's regime, where dissent is aggressively stifled. We unequivocally condemn the targeting and persecution of journalists by President Tayyip Erdoğan's government.
WPF vehemently condemns the Turkish drone strike on a media vehicle in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, killing journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn and injuring multiple others. Journalists covering conflict in the region have been repeatedly hit with Turkish strikes, resulting in multiple deaths. Deliberately targeting press in a conflict zone is a war crime
WPF welcomes the long-overdue release of journalist Derya Ren, who was wrongfully imprisoned on baseless terrorism charges.
WPF condemns the detention of journalist and media personality Gönül Yılman Saygan at İzmir Airport.
WPF condemns this attack and calls for an immediate and thorough investigation by Iraqi and Turkish authorities to find out why the Çira TV vehicle was targeted.
WPF is appalled by the decision of the Ankara court to convict eight journalists, including four women journalists, from the Kurdish news outlet Mezopotamya Agency.
Journalist Elif Akgül, former editor at Bianet, has been acquitted of terrorism propaganda charges related to her tweets.
WPF vehemently condemns the ongoing harassment and intimidation by Turkish authorities against Sevinç Özarslan, a Turkish journalist forced into exile in Germany.
WPF firmly condemns the baseless charges against Esra Solin Dal and her two journalist colleagues, who are being accused of "membership in a terrorist organization" due to their alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
WPF is outraged that media outlet Demirören News Agency (DHA) pressured reporter Rojda Altıntaş not to publish a story, about a car accident involving the 17-year-old son of writer Eylem Tok, by people connected to DHA's powerful owners, Demirören Holding.
Five journalists affiliated with Özgürlükçü Demokrasi (Liberal Democracy) have been sentenced to prison, with former editors Hicran Ürün and Reyhan Hacıoğlu receiving three years and 45 days respectively, WPF worryingly documents.
WPF organization vehemently condemns the recent ruling by the Anadolu 9th Civil Court of First Instance, which ordered journalists Yasemin Çongar, Mehmet Baransu, Ahmet Altan, and Yıldıray Oğur to pay damages to retired General Çetin Doğan.
WPF is elated that Kurdish journalist and artist Zehra Doğan has finally been acquitted.
WPF strongly condemns the unjust charges against Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçın who were arrested by police for allegedly belonging to a terrorist organization.
Yet again, authorities have thrown Elif Akkuş behind bars, this time awaiting trial under accusations of evidence tampering, allegedly tied to her expenditure during coverage of conflicts in Libya and Syria while working for state-run broadcaster TRT.
WPF expresses deep concern over the actions of Turkish authorities during the May Day march in Istanbul's Saraçhane district.
WPF vehemently condemns the repeated and unfounded accusations against journalist Zeynep Kuray by Turkish authorities.
WPF strongly condemns the police raid following Kurdish Journalists' Day targeting journalists from Kurdish news outlets across Turkiye.
WPF condemns the prosecutor's decision to pursue charges against journalist Asena Tunca for allegedly "opposing the law on meetings and demonstrations" following her violent detention by law enforcement while covering a protest against the government's handling of the February 2024 earthquakes.
WPF condemns the investigation into Duygu Kıt for her coverage of opposition to a quarry construction close to a fatal mine collapse in İliç, Erzincan.
WPF expresses profound dismay at the relentless pursuit of journalist Ayşe Kara by the Diyarbakır prosecutor, who has gone to unjustifiable lengths to harass her.
WPF celebrates the release of Dilan Oyunş after an unjust seven-year imprisonment on spurious terrorism charges.
WPF condemns the threats and violence Medine Mamedoğlu endured as a direct consequence of her exposing police brutality during protests in Van.
WPF stands unwaveringly with Perihan Kaya, an exiled journalist facing retrial in Turkiye on unfounded terrorism charges.
WPF views the lawsuit by Deputy Ali İhsan Arslan of the ruling AKP party against İleri Haber journalists İzel Sezer and Doğan Ergün as an attempt to stifle critical journalism, and we call for the case to be dismissed.
Rojin Akın has been finally vindicated of “membership of a terrorist organization” charges.
WPF firmly condemns the recent assaults, intimidation, and detentions of journalists in Turkiye, as they covered the protests against the electoral authorities' decision to block a pro-Kurdish mayor-elect in Van despite his election victory.
WPF persistently monitored the electoral process during the local elections and noted multiple instances of infringements. We condemn acts of violence and restrictions, including against Ece Üner, who was threatened with death.
Women Press Freedom is deeply troubled by Elif Akgül facing a potential 13.5 years behind bars over two tweets in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
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