‘Impunity Encouraging Violence Against Journalists Paves the Way for New Attacks’

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The surging physical assaults against journalists especially in the last two weeks have caused outrage. Politicians and journalists' organizations have condemned iolence against journalists in general and the most recent attack against Odatv columnist Sabahattin Önkibar in particular.

Apart from making condemning statements, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu has also submitted a parliamentary inquiry, requesting that the attacks launched against journalists and columnists be investigated at the Parliament.

Tanrıkulu: Attacks have increased before the election

Submitting a parliamentary inquiry, CHP MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu has claimed that the assaults against journalists aim to intimidate dissident people.

"That the assaulters use the same methods and have common traits brings up the allegations that these attacks are directed from the same center", Tanrıkulu has further indicated in his inquiry and added, "It also needs to be explained why these attacks have increased before the election."

Akşener: How many more journalists will be attacked?

Sharing a message regarding the attack against journalist and writer Sabahattin Önkibar, İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener has said,

"I condemn the attack launched against esteemed journalist and writer Sabahattin Önkibar. We will closely follow all incidents of violence targeting our journalists. How many more journalists must be subjected to violence for the government to correct its antagonizing language?"

Özel: Intolerance of different opinions

Stating that they will follow the attack against Önkibar in its all aspects, CHP MP Özgür Özel has also said, "We damn all attacks against journalists who express their opinions. These attacks are the result of a politics intolerant of different opinions and a targeting language."

Tezcan: Attacks against Kılıçdaroğlu and Demirağ encouraged further attacks

Condemning the assault against Önkibar, CHP Aydın MP and Party Assembly member Bülent Tezcan has stated,

"We have to condemn these attacks strongly and stand up to them with a broad consensus. The fact that the perpetrators of the attacks against Dear CHP Chair [Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu] in Çubuk and journalist Yavuz Selim Demirağ are free must have encouraged this attack."

Yeneroğlu: Banditry is a threat against public order

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Central Executive Board member and İstanbul MP Mustafa Yeneroğlu has shared the following message on his Twitter account:

"I strongly condemn the brutal attack Sabahattin Önkibar was subjected to. A minimum democratic stance requires us as the public to raise our voices against escalating violence against journalists. Banditry is a threat against public order. I wish Dear Mr. Önkibar a quick recovery."

Turkish Publishers Association: Freedom of expression is indispensable for everyone

Expressing their concerns over the surging attacks against journalists and writers, the Turkish Publishers Association (TYB) has stated, 

"Freedom of expression is an indispensable right for everyone, it has to be protected. All types of interventions in this right and the impunity encouraging these interventions pave the way for new incidents of violence."

Journalists' Association of Turkey: We call the politicians not to target journalists

The Journalists' Association of Turkey (TGC) has also condemned the attacks targeting journalists by referring to the last assault against Önkibar:

"We demand that the Directorate General of Security find the ones who targeted journalists, organized the attacks and formed these teams with sticks in their hands as soon as possible and bring them to justice.

"Otherwise, everyone who looks on this process and 'insists on the non-punishment of the attackers' will be accountable for this inhuman and anti-democratic attitude and unlawfulness.

"We are once again making a call to politicians not to hinder people's right to be informed and learn the truths and not to target journalists."

What happened?

Five journalists have been physically assaulted in Turkey over the last two weeks, namely Yavuz Selim Demirağ, a program producer for Türkiyem TV and a columnist for daily Yeni Çağ; İdris Özyol, a columnist for the Antalya-based Akdeniz'de Yeni Yüzyıl newspaper; Ergin Çevik, the Editor-in-Chief of Antalya-based Güney Haberci news website; Hakan Denizli, the Grant Holder of the Adana-based daily Egemen newspaper; Sabahattin Önkibar, a columnist for the Odatv news website.

While the ones taken into custody for having attacked journalist Yavuz Selim Demirağwas released by the Prosecutor's Office on the ground that "Demirağ did not have a risk of death", two people detained in relation with the attack against Ergin Çevik were released on probation after deposing to the Prosecutor's Office. Hakan Denizli's attackers, whose physical appearance has been identified, are still sought by the police.

Four suspects, who were previously taken into custody as part of the investigation launched into the assault against journalist Sabahattin Önkibar, have also been released on probation by the court. (AÖ/SD)