Journalist sharing videos of children being collectively taken to prayer threatened

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Mezopotamya Agency Reporter Bilal Güldem is facing harassment for sharing a video on X (Twitter) in which the Quranic Generation Platform in Batman was seen taking children collectively to prayer. Güldem, who was targeted, not only received threats but was also subjected to numerous insults and swears on social media. The route Güldem uses when commuting to work and home in Diyarbakır was also shared on social media posts.

In the video sent to Güldem by a news source in Batman, dozens of children are seen walking in the street wearing skullcaps. The person recording in the car can be heard saying in a mixture of Turkish and Kurdish, "This has become like Afghanistan. There is no difference between here and Afghanistan anymore... They have deceived all the children. They are providing military training to them."

Görüntü Batman’dan pic.twitter.com/x2RSdbaVg0

— Bilal Güldem (@BilalGuldem) September 10, 2023

Güldem, contacted by bianet, said, "My news source from Batman sent me the video in question. I simply shared it by saying, 'The footage is from Batman.' I provided the footage without any commentary. After the video was published, a person named Bilal Çakır, who is affiliated with the Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR), targeted me, and then the attacks began."

"They have downloaded my photo and written 'PKK' on it. They are trying to label me as illegal based on a case I was previously tried and acquitted. They are openly threatening me," he added.

Güldem also said, "Okay, you can defend Islamic education, but what about targeting, openly sharing my personal information, and attempting to label me as illegal, or a member of illegal organizations? I hope it doesn't escalate further. I have documented all the content that contains insults and threats to file a criminal complaint. I have given it to my lawyer. I will file a criminal complaint."

Önderoğlu: "Authorities should take responsibility"

Erol Önderoğlu, the Turkey Representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), also expressed support for Güldem.

Önderoğlu said, "Grave examples started to be seen in Turkey more and more in the field of journalism in relation to the reports on topics such as belief or children's rights, after the corruption issues. It is quite alarming for a journalist who has simply conveyed an image to be targeted by a social media user who has been identified as a lawyer. This amounts to an attempt to eliminate personal safety. We call on the authorities to take responsibility for such unacceptable attacks."

DFG recalls Kurdish Hizbullah murders

The Dicle Firat Journalists Association (DFG) also made a written statement on the issue, recalling the Kurdish Hezbullah murders of the 1990s (naming them Hizbu-Counter-insurgency murders).

In the statement, they said, "Journalists are certainly open to criticism due to the profession they perform. Their news or articles can be criticized. However, this organized attack and lynching attempt is not something that can be accepted. Especially when the remnants and supporters of the state-backed Hizbul-Kontra, known as a group that carried out massacres under the guise of religion in our region in the 1990s, are involved, the situation becomes serious. We know from the examples in our recent history that such tendencies can lead to attempts on the lives of journalists. Therefore, we strongly condemn these attacks against our journalist colleague Bilal Güldem."

Prayer education for 3,500 children

The images in the video in question are from the "Life is Beautiful with Prayer" campaign organized by the Quranic Generation Platform for children aged 7-10. In the program, 3,500 children received 15 days of religious education. Girls had their heads covered, and boys were made to wear skullcaps as the children were introduced to prayer.

The closing of the program was attended by HÜDA PAR Batman Deputy Serkan Ramanlı and HÜDA PAR Provincial Chairman Davut Şahin.

Similar campaigns are being organized in more than 30 cities.

HÜDA PAR

The Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR), an Islamist pro-Kurdish party, participated in the May 14 parliamentary elections under the lists of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AKP, securing four parliamentary seats.

Opposition parties criticized this alliance, viewing HÜDA-PAR as the political wing of the Kurdish Hezbullah, which targeted hundreds of individuals, including Kurdish politicians and journalists, during the 1990s. However, HÜDA-PAR maintains that it has no affiliation with any armed organization.

(HA/PE)