Journalist Put a Gun against his Head by Police Speaks

In Silvan district of Diyarbakır province, in southeastern Turkey, Özgür Gün TV reporter Murat Demir who was hit in the head and Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter Serhat Yüce who was put a gun against his head were detained since they shot pictures in the garden of municipality. Two journalists talked to bianet.

Yüce said he thought the police would shoot him certainly since he loaded the bullet while Demir indicated policemen would treat them differently when they were detained for a second time.

Demir: We were sitting in the garden of municipality

Murat Demir summarized the incident in the garden of Silvan Municipality:

 “We were waiting in the garden of Silvan municipality. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Sibel Yiğitalp and Co-Mayors were there.

 “An armored police vehicle came and announced ‘Go inside the town hall!’

 “Policemen from the armored vehicle ran across to us shouting ‘We said don’t shoot pictures, didn’t we?’”

"They put a gun against Serhat and detained him first and then me.”

“They fined us 61 Euros for ‘violating the curfew’ and threatened that they would treat us differently if we were detained again.”

Yüce: I thought he would shoot me

DİHA reporter Serhat Yüce quoted:

“An undercover policeman got out the car and loaded his gun. He came to me angrily. He said shooting pictures was forbidden."

 “He threatened me while strangling me and putting a gun against my head.”

 “I thought he would shoot me, certainly but he amazed me. He just kicked me and then departed.

“We took AA employees as references”

“We took Anadolu Agency (AA) employees as references. AA employees have taken photos of the special operations team, tanks, streets and etc. from the beginning of the curfew and make news about it…"

“We tried to make news like AA."

Situation in Silvan

                                                                            Photo Credit: Okan Özer / AA

Serhat Yüce summarized the situation in Silvan:

“Last night, Silvan people casseroled the curfew. Silence ruled over the district, now. Policemen announce the curfew goes on. 

“People are deprived of food and water. There is no electricity because electric transformers blasted. There is a water shortage in 75% of the district. Citizens are trying to carry water from fountains.”

“Shops are closed. You can’t even buy a loaf of bread. I saw it with my own eyes; an armored police vehicle came in front of a bakery and threatened they would shut down it if the bakery wasn’t closed in ten minutes.” (EKN/BD)

Click here to read the article in Turkish