Police Violence Against Journalists Documented

Journalists in Istanbul also became target of police violence during the Gezi Resistance Anniversary Protests on May 31.  

Police broke up the crowd in Taksim with TOMAs, tear gas, rubber bullets and riot shields at 7:00 pm local time. Besides that, police took several protestors into custody and swept a group, in which most of people are journalists, towards Tünel Square.

Police didn’t let to the journalist to enter the area, the nearby shops and cafes. When incidents have expanded towards Tünel Square, there was no one other than journalists in front of the police barricade. Despite that, police prevented the journalist to move in the direction of İstiklal Street.

Although journalists warned the police regarding the aspects of committing an offense, breaking the constitution, infringing the right of receiving information and freedom of press, police continued to behave in a brutal manner.

First, police used paper gas at a close distant to the face of the journalists and they also fired rubber bullets against them. Later on, they were swept towards to the behind of the city hall building in Tünel Square.

When journalists protested this actual custody, they were exposed to the police violence. The incident was recorded by KameraSokak, a voluntary group dedicated to record protest and police violence.

After detaining journalists for 15 minutes, police cleared the way. (EA/CB/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.