Turkiye: Journalists Assaulted, Injured, and Detained During Protests Against Decision to Block Mayor-Elect in Van
Police attack press workers covering protests nationwide
Location: Turkiye
Date: April 5, 2024
Women Press Freedom 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. The police detaining reporters Sema Korkmaz, Müzeyyen Yüce, Medine Mamedoğlu, Zilan Azad, Yeşim Dokur and Dilan Şimşek; beating Korkmaz and Mamedoğlu before being taking them into custody; and injuring JINN News reporter Rabia Önver with rubber bullets are unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of human rights and press freedom. Police violence against media workers is distressingly common in Turkiye; this must not be allowed to continue. Women Press Freedom demands immediate action to address reports of police brutality against members of the press; officers responsible must be investigated and prosecuted. We demand the immediate release of all the detained journalists.
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.
WPF is deeply concerned for the safety of press workers in Georgia following the disputed elections marred by violence, allegations of vote rigging, and claims of electoral misconduct. Throughout election day, journalists reporting at polling stations faced assaults, intimidation, and obstruction, highlighting the growing dangers for independent media covering politically sensitive events in the country
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.
On April 3, 2024, protests erupted across several Turkish cities in response to the electoral authorities' initial decision to block a pro-Kurdish mayor-elect from the DEM party in Van, despite his victory in local elections. The decision, later overturned, fueled demonstrations against perceived election interference.
Journalists covering these protests faced a disturbing surge of assaults, intimidation, and detentions by law enforcement officers.
In Van, police beat and detained Medine Mamedoğlu. Before facing police aggression, the journalist was attacked and harassed online after reporting on human rights abuses during protests. She was later released.
Jinnews reporter Rabia Önver was injured by a rubber bullet fired by police while covering the protests in Yüksekova.
While reporting protests in Esenyurt, Istanbul, Yeni Yaşam journalist Sema Korkmaz and her colleague Ferhat Sezgin were violently detained by police. Artı Gerçek’s Müzeyyen Yüce and PİRHA reporter Dilan Şimşek were also detained.
Bugün Esenyurt'ta haber takibi yapan Mezopotamya Ajansı muhabiri Ferhat Sezgin ve Yeni Yaşam Gazetesi çalışanı Sema Korkmaz işkenceyle gözaltına alındı.
— Beritan Canözer (@bcanozerr) April 3, 2024
Arkadaşlarımız derhal serbest bırakılmalıdır. #GazetecilikSuçDeğildir pic.twitter.com/rc5ttcM6ea
On April 4, 2024, a group of women and members of the LGBTQI community were demonstrating in front of the Süreyya Opera in Kadıköy, Istanbul when police intervened and detained at least 35 people, including Siyasi Haber journalists Zilan Azad and Yeşim Dokur. They were taken into custody for allegedly breaching the law on meetings and were released after giving statements to police.
Kadıköy’de Kadınlar Birlikte Güçlü "Van'daki halaya İstanbul’dan katılıyoruz!" çağrısıyla yapılmak istenen eyleme polis müdahale etti, @SiyasiHaberOrg muhabiri Zilan Azad ve Yeşim Dokur gözaltına alındı. pic.twitter.com/aTtpF4gxMg
— Dicle Fırat Gazeteciler Derneği (@DFGDernegi) April 4, 2024
Journalist Serkan Kaya received death threats for filming people allegedly associated with the ruling party AKP who used guns against protesters in Hakkari. Reporter Ruşen Takva was also targeted with pressurized water during a live broadcast.
Authorities extended the detention of journalists Müzeyyen Yüce, Dilan Şimşek, Sema Korkmaz, and Ferhat Sezgin by 24 hours on April 4, 2024.
Turkish authorities detained 340 people across 14 provinces during the unrest. Reports suggest injuries and alleged mistreatment among detainees.
These incidents occurred against the backdrop of recent local elections that saw significant losses for the ruling party in cities nationwide. Throughout the electoral process and after, journalists faced attacks, threats, and restrictions, as documented by Women Press Freedom. In one alarming incident, journalists in Diyarbakır were shot at during a clash over an election dispute, though thankfully no injuries were reported. Journalist Ece Üner received a death threat in response to her comments on a political decision. The Supreme Electoral Board also prohibited journalists from video recording the vote-counting process, leading to instances of journalists being forcibly removed by police.
While the electoral authorities eventually overturned their decision regarding the mayor-elect, the unjust treatment of journalists during the protests cannot be ignored. The Turkish government must be held accountable for the brutal actions of law enforcement officers and ensure thorough investigations and prosecutions of those responsible. Women Press Freedom calls for a swift and transparent probe into reports of violence against journalists. We call for the immediate release of all journalists still being held behind bars.
The Turkish government must respect journalists' rights to report freely without fear of violence or intimidation.
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.
Women Press Freedom welcomes the decision by the Istanbul prosecutor to drop the investigation against Artı TV journalist Şükran Ekinci.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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