Victory Party members obstruct Kurdistan24 journalists covering Kılıçdaroğlu-Özdağ presser

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Members of the ultranationalist Victory (Zafer) Party of obstructed Kurdistan24 (K24) journalists who were attempting to cover a press conference of Ümit Özdağ, head of the party, and presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

According to journalist Hayri Demir, who was present at the press conference, despite efforts made by representatives of professional organizations, Victory Party members persisted in preventing the K24 team.

The K24 journalists were eventually compelled to leave the premises without being able to cover the conference, during which Özdağ declared his support for Kılıçdaroğlu in Sunday's runoff vote for the presidency.

Kurdistan 24 reporter in Ankara was barred from covering the press conference of the far-right Turkish Zafer (Victory) Party, in which the anti-immigration party announced its endorsement for presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the May 28 run-off election. pic.twitter.com/xcqzkdiKed

— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) May 24, 2023

"They can't even tolerate a microphone"

The Union of Press, Broadcasting and Printing Workers of Turkey (DİSK Basın-İş) released a statement expressing their condemnation of the incident, stating, "We condemn those who cannot even tolerate a microphone.

"Our members, a K24 reporter and a camera operator, who intended to cover the press conference of presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Ümit Özdağ, were hindered.. The K24 microphone was not allowed on the lectern. We condemn those who cannot even tolerate a microphone."

The Ankara branch of the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) also issued a statement regarding the incident, saying, "It doesn't matter who they are, no one should forget... We journalists are doing our job: always and everywhere! We condemn the obstruction of journalists in carrying out their work!"

This is not the first time Özdağ has faced criticism regarding his party's attitude towards Kurdish journalists. On November 15, following the targeted threats towards Kurdish lawyer Jiyan Tosun over the explosion on İstanbul's İstiklâl Avenue, Özdağ responded to a question from Rûdaw reporter Ömer Sönmez by saying, "I will ban Rûdaw." (TY/VK)