Criticizing the racist attack in Konya, journalist faces an investigation

Previously charged with “provoking the public to hatred and hostility” for criticizing the racist attack against Kurds in Sakarya, journalist Özgür Boğatekin is now summoned to give his statement over his social media post about the attack in Konya.

Hikmet Adal

Criticizing the racist attack in Konya, journalist faces an investigation

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

An investigation has been launched against Özgür Boğatekin, the news director of the Adıyaman-based Gerger Fırat Newspaper, on the grounds of his social media posts about the racist attack that claimed the lives of seven members of a Kurdish family in Konya's Meram.

Boğatekin went to the Gerger Cumhuriyet Police Department and gave his statement. The journalist is charged with "provoking the public to hatred and hostility" as per the Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). He has been released after giving his statement.

CLICK - Seven people from Kurdish family killed in a racist assault

Özgür Boğatekin's social media post

"On the day when the assaulters who had attacked the Kurdish family in Konya and were arrested the other day were released, another attack was carried out against the same family. 7 people from the same family were brutally massacred in the ensuing attack. The same merciless murderers set the house on fire as well and left the area.

"We all know that the state, which has failed to ensure the security of the Kurdish family, who had been attacked twice in a week, and did not give them protection, gives protection to such murderers who carried out the attack for many years.

"Shame on you."

'The family is aggrieved by the state'

In his statement at the police department, Boğateki admitted that he had posted the related social media message. He said that his aim was not to provoke the public to hatred or hostility, as alleged.

Özgür Boğatekin said, "I posted that message just to indicate that the family who was massacred there was aggrieved by the state and that they were unable to benefit from the protection opportunity; I posted the message in question with the aim of criticizing."

Noting that he believes the attack in Konya was a racist attack, Boğatekin said, "I engaged in an activity of journalism. I do not accept the offense charged. A journalist cannot aim to provoke the public to hatred or hostility."

He also deposed over the attack in Sakarya

Last year, after Kurdish seasonal agricultural workers were targeted in a racist attack in Sakarya, Özgür Boğatekin criticized this attack on his Facebook account. He was summoned to give his statement over this post on the same charge as per the Article 216 of the TCK.

The investigation ended in a decision of non-prosecution. (HA/SD)

Origin

BIA News Desk

Hikmet Adal

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