IPI condemns the attack on columnist Memduh Bayraktaroğlu's house

* Photo taken from YouTube livestream of Memduh Bayraktaroğlu by IPI

The International Press Institute (IPI) has condemned the attack on journalist Memduh Bayraktaroğlu's house following Twitter threats. Releasing a written statement two days after the incident, the IPI has called on the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists in Turkey.

Threatened by Ahmet Yiğit Yıldırım, the Chair of ultranationalist Idealist Hearths, a few days ago, Korkusuz newspaper's columnist Memduh Bayraktaroğlu announced that his house was raided by a group of 5-6 people and they tried to break into the house by kicking the door.

Bayraktaroğlu expressed his suspicions that the perpetrators of the attack might be the ultranationalist Gray Wolves, officially known as the Idealist Hearths, which is affiliated with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). In a series of tweets yesterday (February 24), Bayraktaroğlu also said that he pressed charges against MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli over the attempted raid.

Making a statement against this backdrop, the IPI has condemned the attack and called on "Turkish authorities to investigate the attack on Bayraktaroğlu and protect the journalist from any further threats."

"IPI condemns the attack on Memduh Bayraktaroğlu and we call on the Turkish authorities to find those responsible and hold them to account", IPI Turkey Programme Coordinator Renan Akyavaş has said and added: "Turkey must make clear that violence against journalists is unacceptable."

Violence against journalists in Turkey

Further in its statement, the IPI has raised concerns that "in recent years, physical and legal attacks on journalists in Turkey have drastically increased." The Institute has shared the following information:

"In 2021 alone, 241 journalists faced trials on charges that included insulting the president or terrorism, 28 of whom were convicted. Last week, Güngör Arslan, the owner and managing editor of the local Ses Kocaeli newspaper, was murdered. The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners including IPI called for swift and thorough investigation into Arslan's murder."

What happened?

In a series of tweets, Memduh Bayraktaroğlu, a columnist for Korkusuz newspaper, wrote that he was faced with an attempted attack and raid on his house. He recounted the incident briefly as follows:

"Esteemed friends; a group of people with sticks in their hands and their faces covered in white cloths came to the door of my house at 11.01 this evening and told me that they came for a flower delivery.

"I asked for the phone number of the florist. As they could not give the number, I got suspicious and called the gendarmerie commander.

"I immediately called the Akyaka Gendarmerie Command and told them that a group of 5-6 people had raided my house and wanted to break into my house by force by kicking my door. [...] As I talked to the Gendarmerie Command loudly, they understood that I asked for help and they ran away from our garden together. Soon afterwards, the gendarmerie team arrived.

"I press charges especially against MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli, who ordered the head of idealist hearths to launch an operation against me. My evidence is the threatening message sent to me by the chair of Idealist Hearths."

Ultranationalist group leader threatened him

After Memduh Bayraktaroğlu criticized Bahçeli in a tweet, Idealist Hearths Chair Ahmet Yiğit Yıldırım threatened the columnist on Twitter.

Calling Bayraktaroğlu a "dog", Yıldırım said, "Don't have any doubts that we will put you on your leash and walk you around." (SD)