Journalist Önal Assaulted for Taking Pictures of Accident

Yakup Önal, owner of the local 'Sesi' ("Voice") newspaper, was assaulted when he took pictures of a bus that had tipped over after an accident on 9 September. The incident happened in the Şarköy district of Tekirdağ, a city west of Istanbul. 3 bus drivers from the Istanbul 'Seyahat' ("travel") Company attacked the journalist.

Önal's back was injured as a result of the assaults. The journalist complained at the district's Police Department.

Prosecutor took the bus drivers' statements and released them

Önal said he observed other bus drivers from a different travel company striding away from the scene while he was attacked.

The journalist explained what happened after the assault: "Under the surveillance of the police I came to the emergency room of Şarköy State Hospital. Several tests were done and I was kept there for three hours under observation. Then I was taken to Tekirdağ State Hospital where I had done a tomography since the severe hits on my back could have caused inner bleeding. I was kept under observation for some more time and then was released from hospital. I cannot work right now because of the pain resulting from the assaults".

Chief of Police visited the journalist

District Chief of Police Kaan Yıkılmaz visited Önal in hospital after the attacks when he was still under observation. The bus drivers that had attacked the journalist were arrested. After having taken their statements, the public prosecutor released the aggressors.

Önal argued: "My recommendation for the Istanbul Seyahat company whose staff has beaten me while I was doing my job: be more careful in choosing your personnel. Istanbul Seyahat has to decide whom they are going to serve". (EÖ/VK)