Journalist Uğur Şahin released from detention

* Photo: Gülfem Karataş / Twitter

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Journalist Uğur Şahin, the News Director of daily BirGün, was detained by the police yesterday (August 3) while he was trying to film an incident of male violence against a woman in Şişli, İstanbul.

After the related proceedings were completed at the police station, the journalist was released from detention late at night.

As reported by daily BirGün, an incident of male violence occurred in the Mecidiyeköy neighborhood yesterday evening. The police came to the scene of the incident upon reports. Uğur Şahin, who was passing by the area, started taking a video recording of the incident.

Referring to the circular of the Directorate General of Security, which has been in effect since April 2021 and bans audio and visual recordings of public events and demonstrations without permission, the police told the journalist that he could not film the incident. After Şahin showed the police his press card, he was taken to the Şişli Security Directorate.

Following the talks with the prosecutor's office on duty at the Şişli Security Directorate, Uğur Şahin was referred to the Kuştepe Police Station. He was taken to the Okmeydanı Cemil Taşcıoğlu Hospital. After the medical examination, the journalist was taken back to the station.

After the related procedures were completed at the police station, journalist Uğur Şahin was released from detention.

In the meantime, press organizations and political party representatives were expressing their objections to the detention of Şahin and expressing their demands for the journalist's immediate release.

In a statement about the incident, the Press Union of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) underlined that Şahin was detained because he filmed an incident of violence against women that he witnessed. "Journalism is not a crime; release our friend," it said.

The Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) also denounced the detention of the journalist "as per the circular on the privacy of the private life (!)" and stressed that "the police cannot interfere with the journalists who are doing their jobs in the field." "Journalism cannot be prevented," the union tweeted, expressing its demands for the release of the journalist from detention.

Circular to 'protect the police'

The Directorate General of Security, on April 27, issued a circular that bans recording voices and images at demonstrations. The Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) İstanbul Branch revealed the circular issued by the signature of Director General of Security Mehmet Aktaş.

With this circular, the police have been instructed to prevent the people who capture the images or voices of police officers during demonstrations and to take legal action against the related people.

The circular has argued that posting the recorded voices and images of police and civilians "violates the privacy of private life", adding that capturing voices and images prevents the fulfillment of duty as well.

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(HA/SD)