Şükrü Gökkaya, news director of the Bizim Radio Television (BR TV) broadcasting in the province of Karabük in northern Turkey, was attacked in his car on Wednesday evening (7 July).
Gökkaya was attacked by a member of the Turkish Metal Workers Union. The man, who allegedly had lost his job very recently, stopped Gökkaya when the journalist returned from work and punched him with his fist.
Yanık: Attack against social peace
Gökkaya is in good health. The suspect was arrested. The President of the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), Mustafa Yanık, condemned the attack, "An attack on the press is an attack on social peace".
"The personal attack on Şükrü Gökkaya was an attack on the whole press and even an attack on the social peace in Karabük. [...] Our only consolation is the fact that the attack was not organized and planned and that the attacker was arrested as soon as possible by the police forces".
Gökkaya reacted to the attack with an article published in yesterday's (8 July) issue of the newspaper entitled "If this was a dishonour I am utterly dishonoured". He described the moment of the attack and his thoughts about it as follows:
"I was coming from a press conference. We were on the way in the car. It was hot. The window was open. And through that window a week fist hit me. Why are you doing this dishonour to the workers, man", he wrote.
"The punch was not for me in fact. Thank God it did not cause me any serious trouble. But the punch hit the PEACE of KARABÜK, which has been known as the most peaceful city for years".
"I do not want to tarnish a whole community because of one single person, but; there is a 'but'. The perpetrator is known. The ranks are clear. It is clear where they are leading in the marches..."
Journalists Association: Workers' struggle needs legal ground
The President of the Karabük Journalists Association, Atilla Karaaslan, said in a written statement, "It is obvious who is responsible for this attack. We remind these officials of whom we know that they are primarily responsible to continue their fight on legal grounds and not to provoke workers and incite them to hatred".
"Press institutions were targeted with verbal abuse, booing, blowing the whistle and with an attitude of threats, intimidations, suppression and attempts to create pressure. Now the press in Karabük is to be silenced by brute force". (EÖ/VK)
