European Council Asks Violence against Bianet Reporter, Turkey Lies

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

European Council has asked Turkey about police violence against bianet reporter, Beyza Kural.

It was alleged in the response carrying the sign of the European Council Permanent Representative of Turkey, Erdoğan İşcan that the protest was unlawful, reporter Beyza Kural was among the protesters and released immediately after she showed her press card.

However, Kural explained that police first asked her of the press card, then threatened and handcuffed her from behind as she went on shooting, which can be seen in the footage she shot.

CLICK - DETAINMENT EFFORT BY HANDCUFFING BEHIND BIANET REPORTER BEYZA KURAL

In the protests against the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) on November 6, police officer threatened bianet reporter, Beyza Kural saying "From now on nothing will be like before, we will teach it to you", and tried to detain her by handcuffing her from behind.

The criminal complaint filed by Kural hasn’t been concluded yet.

“I had the press card”

Kural explained what happened that day as follows:

“I wasn’t among the students. I was battered by undercover police officers as I was recording a student who was detained by being prostrated. I said from the first moment that I was a journalist. They wanted to see my press card, and I showed them. While I was recording by the camera on my neck, an undercover police officer shouted as ‘From now on nothing will be like before, we will teach it to you.’ I was taken to the detention vehicle as I took the camera to my hands. I had the press card by then. I was being handcuffed from behind by the car. Just then a police officer ripped off my press card. I was released before being put in the vehicle upon other journalists saying I was a colleague of them”.

Turkey’s response

Following the application of Federation of the European Journalists, Federation of the International Journalists and Index on Censorship organizations to the European Council, here is the response by the European Council Permanent Representative of Turkey, Erdoğan İşcan:

“A demonstration march that was held on November 6, 2015 in Beyazıt Campus, in Fatih District, İstanbul, with a view to protesting 34th anniversary of the establishment of the Higher Education Council of Turkey, turned into an unlawful meeting due to the illegal nature of the banners and placards carried by protestors. As per article 23 of the Law on Meetings and Demonstration Marches (Law No: 2911), it is forbidden to carry illegal placards, banners, panels, instruments, and materials; or to chant illegal slogans in the course of a demonstration march.

“The law enforcement units asked the protestors to remove the banners and placards which were illegal. Upon the refusal of the protestors, the police intervened into the group. While protestors were dispersed, Beyza Kural who was among them, was held by the law enforcement officers for a while and released immediately upon her identification as a journalist”. (ÇT/TK)