Five Journalists Physically Assaulted Over the Last Two Weeks

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"As part of their promises about protecting human rights defenders and journalists in Turkey, we expect from the authorities that they particularly state that the ones responsible for these attacks will be brought to justice. Impunity is openly paving the way for new assaults."

The above remarks were made by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu regarding the attack targeting journalist Ergin Çevik last week. In his interview to bianet, Önderoğlu raised concerns over the impunity in crimes committed against journalists.

Only two days after Önderoğlu spoke to bianet, Grant Holder of Adana-based Egemen newspaper Hakan Denizli was subjected to an armed attack in front of his house. And two days after this incident, journalist-writer Sabahattin Önkibar was attacked by three people near his house.

In his interview, Önderoğlu underlined that the attacks against journalists have took on a character of a contagious disease and, as the responsible parties for this incident, he referred not only to the politicians who remain unresponsive or devote themselves to polarizing statements, but also to the judiciary, "who put extraordinary procedures in effect."

These five journalists have been attacked in the last two weeks:

Yavuz Selim Demirağ

Yavuz Selim Demirağ, a program producer for Türkiyem TV and a columnist for daily Yeni Çağ, was attacked in front of his house on May 10.

One day later, six of seven suspects were taken into custody. Taking the depositions of the detained, the Prosecutor's Office ruled for their release on the ground that "Demirağ did not have a risk of death."

İdris Özyol

A few days later, investigative journalist İdris Özyol was attacked in Turkey's Mediterranean province of Antalya on May 15.

A columnist for the Antalya-based Akdeniz'de Yeni Yüzyıl newspaper, Özyol was attacked with a beysbol bat and wounded in his chest and head.

Contemporary Journalists' Association (ÇGD) stated that Talu Bilgili, Muratpaşa District Chair of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) previously threatened the journalist and made a call for an investigation into the attack.

The police caught the assaulters based on the video footage taken from the security cameras in the vicinity and detected that the assaulters went to the Muratpaşa District Office of the MHP after the incident. It was also reported that one of the three attackers was Taner Canatek, the chauffeur of MHP Muratpaşa District Chair Talu Bilgi.

As for the reason of the attack, Özyol was reportedly assaulted on the ground that the journalist criticized the attitude of Talu Bilgi, who displayed an aggressive reaction to the banner hung by municipal council member Mithat Aras during the municipal council in May, commemorating Deniz Gezmis and his friends, who were executed by hanging in 1972.

Ergin Çevik

Ergin Çevik, the Editor-in-Chief of Antalya-based Güney Haberci news website, was attacked by three people in Aksu, Antalya.

Being intercepted and battered by three people in front of a restaurant, Çevik previously reported that a bazaar area formerly contracted to a third party by the municipality was not emptied despite a court ruling.

Speaking after the incident, Çevik stated that he filed a criminal complaint against the attackers, but two people detained in relation with the incident were released on probation after deposing to the Prosecutor's Office.

Hakan Denizli

On May 24, four days after Çevik was attacked, Hakan Denizli, the Grant Holder of the Adana-based daily Egemen newspaper, was assaulted.

Hit by two bullets in his leg, Denizli stated that he had been receiving threatening calls over the last few days. Taken to hospital after the incident, Denizli had a surgical operation and was put into intensive care unit. It has been reported that Denizli will stay in intensive care for two more days to prevent any risk of infection and he might have another surgical operation.

The attackers, whose physical appearance has been identified, are still sought by the police.

The assaulted journalist stated that he did not know the attackers, adding that he was receiving threatening phone calls for the last few days. Hakan Denizli was attacked for several times before.

Sabahattin Önkibar

Lastly, journalist Sabahattin Önkibar, a columnist for the Odatv news website, was attacked on May 26. Being on his way home, Önkibar was intercepted and punched by three people.

While the journalist filed a complaint against the assaulters, one of the two vehicles driven by them has been detected based on witnesses' accounts.

Stating that the Governor of Ankara personally called him and extended his get well soon wishes, Önkibar also shared the information that the vehicle of the attackers was a rental one. (HA/SD)