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After giving a concert at the Kadıköy Özgürlük (Freedom) Park in İstanbul on the occasion of August 30 Victory Day yesterday evening, opera singer and BirGün newspaper's columnist Güvenç Dağüstün was subjected to the physical assault of two unidentified persons.
Having bruises on his face, arm and leg following the attack, Dağüstün has been hospitalized. He is reportedly in good health now.
Dağüstün's attorney Serkan Günel has also posted a message about the attack on his client and friend on social media. He has announced that a medical report will be given for Dağüstün by the hospital.
In a message on his social media account, Dağüstün has said:
"I have been receiving so many phone calls and messages. I cannot get back. I have received a report documenting the battery and I am giving my statement at the police station. My attorney and friends are with me. Municipality officials are with me. Don't worry. After all this is done, I will write in detail. But, for now, I don't know who or what the assaulters are."
Çok telefon, mesaj geliyor. Dönemiyorum. Darp raporu aldım, karakolda ifade veriyorum. Avukatım, arkadaşlarım yanımda. Belediye yetkilileri yanımda. Merak etmeyin. Şu işler bitsin, detaylı yazarım. Ama saldırganlar kimdi, neydi şimdilik bilmiyorum. https://t.co/OVCLs39qKq
— Güvenç Dağüstün (@guvencdagustun) August 30, 2021
Assaulters followed him
Attorney Günel has later said that the assaulters said, "This is him, hit out" and attacked Dağüstün with punches and kicks. He has indicated that after the private security guards arrived at the scene of the incident, the assaulters fled. He has added that they watched for him for some time.
Speaking to İsmail Saymaz from Halk TV, Dağüstün has said, "I left the concert area at 10.50 pm. While I was walking at the park with a friend, a person coming towards me punched me and I fell. Then, he told the ones with him, 'Hit out.' Two people dragged me by the foot and hit me while I was on the ground. Security guards and citizens intervened and helped me. As far as I have discovered, two people were waiting on the watch."
RSF has condemned the attack
Erol Önderoğlu, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey, has condemned the attack on Güvenç Dağüstün on Twitter:
"The responsible ones must be caught and it must be found out whether it was done by the ones fostering systematic attacks against the press." (HA/SD)
