Threats to Amberin Zaman Continue After Erdoğan

Taraf newspaper columnist Amberin Zaman received a death threat over Twitter after the release of her article entitled “ISIS will kidnap journalist in Turkey”. 

Twitter closed the account after its user wrote the following: “I will chop you, infidel.” 

Zaman said that she received a phone call from a western embassy in Ankara and was warned to be careful if she ever planned to travel to the [Syrian] border. 

“Especially, the danger is great nearby Suruç district,” the diplomat allegedly warned her. 

“The western media workers are at great risk,” the diplomat told her. 

bianet report: Threats don’t end 

Released on October 22, the latest bianet media monitoring report confirms that threats against journalists are still valid in Turkey. 

According to the report, 21 journalists and 1 local newspaper publishing facility were attacked in the period of July-September 2014. 

In addition to that, 1 news website was blocked, 2 online newspaper headquarters were raided by the police, 4 journalists were verbally assaulted and 3 journalists and 2 newspapers received threats. 

The report also mentioned of a letter that included assassination plots against Taraf newspaper columnist Murat Belge and T24 columnist Aydın Engin. 

Erdoğan targetted as well 

In August, then-PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan targeted Amberin Zaman a reported affiliated with The Economist. 

“Know your limits, nasty woman,” Erdoğan told Amberin Zaman. (EÖ/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.