Akit TV Presenter Faces Outrages After He Threatened Cumhuriyet Newspaper

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Journalist associations have expressed outrage at pro-government Akit TV program “Gün Başlıyor” presenter Yusuf Ozan threatened Cumhuriyet newspaper saying, “In war, it is permissible to kill the likes of you.”

The Journalists' Association of Turkey (TGC), Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Press Union, the Progressive Journalists Association (ÇGD), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Press Council have voiced their outrage and demanded legal action, according to Cumhuriyet.

What happened?

While reading out different newspapers’ headlines on air, Akit TV presenter Yusuf Ozan referred to Cumhuriyet’s headline “11 Soldiers Killed in Afrin” as “dirt” and made antisemitic statements.

Ozan used derogatory expressions claiming Cumhuriyet was conducting a “perception operation” and targeted and threatened the newspaper, saying “In war, it is permissible to kill the likes of you.”

Some of Ozan’s statements were as follows:

* “You liked that there were 11 [dead], you put this in the headline because you orgasmed thinking of the number.”

* “Oh how I wish there was a one-man regime... So that he would shut you down in a second, and I wish there was shariah law, I wish capital punishment was legal and he hanged you all, I’m being very frank, you’re all traitors...”

* “You who hide behind the sword of democracy, the cover of democracy, you are scourge to this country. You can get offended or make yourself hoarse saying whatever, I don’t care, but I wish there was capital punishment in this country. It should be off with your head, you’re a traitor.”

* “Forget about democracy, in war it’s permissible to kill the likes of you. Granted I’m succumbing to my rage but you truly have no honor. God damn you! You have no blood, no honor, no dignity, no integrity. You don’t have a trace of religion nor faith in you. You are relics of an era. These are all crypto-zionists. Whoever stages an operation on a country in such a time is a traitor.” (EA/TK)