“Penguins Are Better Out in Poles”

Turkey’s journalists, a profession group frequently targeted to criticism and protests, are preparing to rally for the public right to be informed. 

Gazeteci Forumu, a journalists forum group, released the following statement: 

“We, journalists, protest police violence, threats, arbitrary detentions and arrests, layoffs, censor and auto-censor during Gezi Resistance.” 

“Don’t baton! Don’t target! Don’t detain! Don’t threaten! Don’t censor! Don’t fire! Don’t arrest! Let me do my job!”

Gazeteci Forumu invited all journalists as well as everyone who want to stand behind their right to be informed to join their cause. 

On 12 July at 7 pm local time, journalists will march from Galatasaray Square to Taksim Square with a banner “Penguins Are Better Out in Poles”. 

13 journalists injured in a day

On July 7, Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) released a statement concerning the police intervention on thousands of demonstrators and dozens of journalists for July 6 demonstrations. 

According to the statement, 13 journalists were injured due to police batons, rubber bullets and gas bomb canisters on July 6. Aydınlık newspaper journalists Beste Gül Öneren and Selçuk Özmen were briefly detained and released after submitting their testimonies. 

From the first days of Gezi Resistance, scores of media representatives have been wounded due to police batons, rubber bullets and gas bomb canisters, as well as taken into detention, battered or insulted.  

On July 24, TGS submitted lawsuits to prosecutors in Istanbul against those who they held responsible for the police violence during Gezi Resistance including Istanbul Governor and Istanbul Police Commissioner. (AS/BM)