Popular street interviewer attacked in Antalya

Click to read the article in Turkish

A journalist and a camera operator doing vox pop interviews for their YouTube channel were attacked yesterday (February 24) in Antalya, southern Turkey.

They were attacked by a group of 10 people who introduced themselves as Gray Wolves, an ultranationalist group, journalist Arif Kocabıyık said on Twitter.

He would get a report of assault and file a criminal complaint against the attackers, he added.

8 10 kişilik sözde kendilerini ülkücü olarak tanıtan şerefsizler tarafından saldırıya uğradık.. şimdi hastane raporu alıp şikayetçi olmaya gidiyoruz.. pic.twitter.com/XuQmsaMy88

— Arif Kocabıyık (@Arif_IlaveTv07) February 24, 2022

The attack "came out of blue," Kocabıyık later said in a video, adding, "I and my team were doing interviews. A 10-people group came and attacked without saying anything.

"Then they yelled, 'We won't let you do interviews here. We'll make Antalya unbearable for you.' Then they ran away.

"I have marks on my arm, lip and back. My camera operator friend also has a lot of marks of assault."

YouTube channels with vox pop interviews on the country's current affairs have grown in popularity over the past few years as freedom of the press declines.

Along with two other YouTubers doing street interviews, Arif Kocabıyık was detained in December. He was banned from international travels and given a house arrest. (HA/VK)