Seven Journalists Targeted and Threatened in One Month

A group of journalists trying to cover a Democratic Society Party (DTP) meeting in Adana have been physically assaulted. During the meeting on March 7th, which featured DTP co-chair Emine Ayna, Show TV reporters Ediz Alıç, Rengin Gültekin and cameraperson Kadir Puslu were attacked by a group of alleged DTP sympathizers.

Çukurova Journalists' Society (ÇGC) has condemned the assault with a written statement and urged that the aggressors are brought to justice. "We demand assistance from DTP authorities to help the police in order to identify the aggressors. Hoping that DTP officials disapproves with this action, we once again strongly condemn the attack."

Three journalists were treated in hospital and later filed a complaint. A TV camera was broken.

In February, Anadolu Agency reporter Meral Özdemir, NTV reporter Mahmut Bozaslan and Haberturk cameraperson Mehmet Emek were assaulted in Diyarbakır, during a protest to commemorate PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's arrest 10 years ago.

On another account, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) MP Akif Akkuş allegedly threatened Tarsus Journalists' Society chair and local Tarsus Merhaba newspaper's editor-in-chief Cemal Dolaşmaz over the phone.

It's claimed that the MP reacted to Dolaşmaz's commentary published on February 23. The journalist filed a complaint to the prosecutor's office.(EÖ/AGÜ)