International reactions to police violence against photojournalist during Pride March

Photo: Sedat Elbasan

Click to read the article in Turkish

Several international journalism and freedom of expression groups have criticized the police's treatment of journalists during the LGBTI+ Pride March on June 26.

Covering the march for AFP, photojournalist Bülent Kılıç was detained with police officers kneeling on his back and neck. The journalist was heard saying "I can't breathe."

His camera was also broken by police officers. Kılıç said he would file a criminal complaint against the officers.

CLICK - Police 'realized Bülent Kılıç was a journalist when he was taken to police station' 

CLICK - Deputy minister defends police violence against journalist Bülent Kılıç 

Police officers also tried to prevent other journalists from taking photos and videos of LGBTI+s being violently detained during the march.

Council of Europe's Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists recorded Kılıç's detention as an "alert" on its website. 

Renan Akyavaş, the International Press Institute (IPI) Turkey Program Coordinator, said, "Police violence against citizens, protestors and journalists covering public demonstrations has been intensified in recent years in Turkey, and has been given further cover by a police directive in April 2021 granting the power to stop anyone reporting on protests. 

"Bülent Kılıç's brutal detention while covering the Pride March was merely the clearest example of disproportionate use of force by the police.

"No journalist's safety can be risked due to police brutality. We stand in solidarity with Kılıç in his search for justice against police violence."

The Reporters Without Borders condemned the deputy interior minister's statement approving the treatment of Kılıç, saying, "This is an example of how violence and impunity have become a rule."

Gulnoza Said, the Europe and Central Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said, "Turkish authorities should thoroughly investigate all police personnel involved in the detention of photojournalist Bülent Kılıç and the life-threatening violence he was subjected to. 

"Authorities in Turkey must accept that reporters have a right to cover the news in the field and take concrete action to prevent police officers from harassing them."

Sarah Clarke of Article 19 said the police violence towards journalists and demonstrators was "horrible," calling for an end to police violence against peaceful protests. (HA/VK)