On the afternoon of 15 July 1996, police officers beat five photographers and reporters who were covering a demonstration against police brutality held in front of the office of the Governor of Istanbul. According to eyewitness accounts, policemen intentionally targeted journalists, beating them and breaking their cameras. Several reporters fled the police and took shelter […]
On the afternoon of 15 July 1996, police officers beat five
photographers and reporters who were covering a demonstration
against police brutality held in front of the office of the
Governor of Istanbul. According to eyewitness accounts, policemen
intentionally targeted journalists, beating them and breaking
their cameras.
Several reporters fled the police and took shelter in the office
of the Turkish Journalists Association. Three police officers
chased these journalists. The officers forced their way into the
office of the Association. The Secretary General of the
Journalists Association, Leyla Tavsanoglu, objected to the police
raid and told the policemen that they were pursuing legitimate
journalists. The policemen told her that the journalists were
terrorists. The policemen proceeded to drag several journalists
out of the Association’s office. Among those beaten and detained
were Ms. Hatice Tuncer, a reporter for the daily newspaper
“Cumhuriyet”, and Ms. Sevil Erdogan, a reporter for the daily
“Siyah Beyaz”. The journalists were later released.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Turkish Prime Minister:
journalists will have a chilling effect on press freedom in Turkey
police beating of journalists covering the 15 July demonstration
in Istanbul and see to it that those officers who carried out the
beatings are brought to justice
directives to the police that aim at preventing the abuse of
journalists carrying out their professional duties
Appeals To
His Excellency Necmettin Erbakan
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 417 0476 or +90 312 230 8896
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
