Turkiye: Police Assault and Detain Journalists Covering Kurdish New Year Celebrations
Bianet’s Tuğçe Yılmaz beaten by police, AFP’s Eylül Deniz Yaşar detained
Location: Turkiye, Istanbul
Date: March 17, 2024
Women Press Freedom is appalled by the police violence and unjust detention of journalists covering the Kurdish New Year Celebrations (Nowruz) in Istanbul. Bianet's Tuğçe Yılmaz was thrown to the ground and physically assaulted by police, while AFP reporter Eylül Deniz Yaşar was aggressively detained. We denounce attacks against press trying to report. These actions by the police on a day of cultural significance for the Kurdish community are unacceptable. Sadly, police violence against journalists and harassment of Kurdish press members are common occurrences in Turkiye. The officers responsible for this violence must be held accountable. We demand a swift and transparent investigation into police officers seen on camera assaulting journalists; the Istanbul prosecutor must act with urgency.
Read latest reports from the globe
İstanbul #Newroz’unda gazetecilere polis şiddeti
— bianet (@bianet_org) March 17, 2024
⏺️Kutlamaları takip eden bianet muhabirlerinin polisten şiddet gördüğü anlar
Video: Eylem Nazlıer (@eylemnazlier) https://t.co/dzSxXLAdLI pic.twitter.com/tminzHt7l7
Bianet reporter Tuğçe Yılmaz, while attempting to film police evacuating the area, was impeded by officers and warned to stop recording. Yılmaz identified as a journalist and continued to film. In response, a police officer threw Yılmaz to the ground and pressed against the journalist’s throat. Police also assaulted fellow Bianet reporter Ali Dinç.
The violent attack was caught on camera and shows the highly violent actions of the police against the journalists. Bianet reports that police also attempted to detain its Kurdish editor Aren Yıldırım. Yılmaz and Dinç have announced their intention to file a complaint against the police to the authorities.
While en route to cover the Nowruz event, AFP journalist Eylül Deniz Yaşar was unlawfully detained by the police at a checkpoint. Yaşar, who was previously detained in 2021, reported being handcuffed tightly and subjected to aggressive treatment. Her detention followed her protest against what she deemed an excessive and “brutal” police body search. Yaşar, along with 14 others, was insulted by police while being held in a van, derogatorily referred to as "pig droppings, terrorists, traitors."
She was released six hours later without any charges. Yaşar was among approximately 50 people detained by Turkish police on the sidelines of the Kurdish New Year celebrations in Istanbul.
This violent crackdown by the police cast a shadow over the Nowruz celebrations, typically marked by traditional dances and bonfires, which were canceled due to the unrest. The incident is indicative of the challenges faced by Kurds in Turkiye, a community that experiences significant discrimination. Documentation by Women Press Freedom reveals a pattern of press violations against Kurdish journalists and a litany of attacks since the beginning of the year.
On February 13, 2024, Turkish police conducted raids and detained Kurdish media workers in Izmir. Days earlier, Kurdish journalists Selamet Turan and Kibriye Evren were detained in similar raids. Turan is being held in jail pending trial, Evren was released under judicial control after three days of detention. All journalists are facing bogus terror-related charges. The Turkish state typically uses the guise of anti-terror operations to jail, imprison, or legally harass Kurdish journalists and their outlets.
Women Press Freedom unequivocally condemns the acts of police violence perpetrated against Tuğçe Yılmaz and the unjust detention of Eylül Deniz Yaşar. Police officers have no right to attack and physically harm reporters simply for carrying out their duty to document events. We express our support for Yılmaz and her colleagues at Bianet as they take the necessary steps to report this horrific attack to the authorities. The prosecutor must initiate a transparent investigation into the officers' actions. Such aggression and violence undermine the fundamental principles of press freedom and must be met with accountability and justice.
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.
WPF denounces the court’s decision to convict Pınar Gayıp and Mehmet Acettin, journalists with the Etkin News Agency (ETHA), of “denigrating Turkishness” for their coverage of a lawyer accused of sexual harassment.
WPF condemns the charges brought against Zeynep Durgut, who was unjustly and forcibly arrested while she was covering a women's rights activist's press statement in November 2023.
WPF welcomes the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling Turkiye violated the freedom, security, and freedom of expression rights of journalist Ayşenur Parıldak — exonerating the journalist and acknowledging the unjust sentence she endured.
WPF supports Yaşar's decision to file a complaint against police officers who subjected the journalist to physical assault, racist insults, and threats when they violently detained her.
WPF is appalled by the police violence and unjust detention of journalists covering the Kurdish New Year Celebrations (Nowruz) in Istanbul.
WPF welcomes the guilty verdict against the police officers for their violence against reporter Beyza Kural in Istanbul during her coverage of the YÖK protest in 2015.
In a groundbreaking decision, Turkiye's Constitutional Court ruled that a travel ban imposed on journalist and author Nurcan Kaya constitutes an infringement upon the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
The exoneration of documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin from charges implicating her with a terrorist organization signifies the conclusion of a protracted legal ordeal that began with her detention in December 2022.
Dicle Müftüoğlu, editor at the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, has been held in pretrial detention for over 7 months on charges of membership and leadership in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group classified as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government.
Women Press Freedom welcomes court’s decision while urging an end to state’s abuse of anti-terror legislation to target journalist
WPF has been closely following the case against journalist Canan Coşkun in Turkiye and welcomes the recent court decision to drop all charges against her following a retrial.
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.
WPF vehemently condemns the recent judgment against journalist Nagihan Yılkın, who was fined for "insulting a public official" following her investigative work into corruption involving the former Governor of Gaziantep, Turkiye.
WPF strongly condemns the sentencing of Nazlı Ilıcak, a journalist who has endured relentless legal harassment since the 2016 failed coup attempt.
WPF stands firmly against the recent detentions of journalists and press workers in Izmir, Turkiye, highlighting a continuing and concerning trend of press suppression under the guise of anti-terrorism efforts.
In a morning raid on her home in Kocaeli on February 9, 2024, journalist Kirbriye Evren was detained by the anti-terror unit.
Following a raid on her home, journalist Selamet Turan was apprehended by police in Sirnak and held in custody for nearly four days without clarity on the grounds for her detention.
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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.