ELAZIĞ, June 26, 2024 - Two years after journalist Ardıl Batmaz was assaulted while covering a news event, the identity of a second attacker has been revealed as businessman Hasan Celal Kaya. The discovery marks a significant development in the ongoing legal case regarding the assault.
Batmaz was covering an inspection visit by then-Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum to review TOKİ housing projects in Elazığ, following an earthquake. During his coverage, Batmaz was obstructed and assaulted by police officers as he filmed the reactions of earthquake survivors to Elazığ Mayor Şahin Şerifoğulları.
Following the incident, Batmaz obtained a medical report documenting the assault and filed complaints against the police officers involved and Mayor Şerifoğulları. The Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office charged Ö.F.T., one of Şerifoğulları's bodyguards, with "simple injury by abuse of public office." However, the investigation against Şerifoğulları was dismissed, and no action was taken against other suspects identified by Batmaz.
In the ongoing trial at the Elazığ 5th Criminal Court of First Instance, Batmaz, participating as the complainant, argued that the investigation was insufficient and requested a new expert report on the video footage. The report indicated that while Batmaz was filming, Mayor Şerifoğulları directed his bodyguards to remove him, referring to Batmaz as a “jackal,” and that physical intervention followed, causing the recording to stop.
The court accepted Batmaz's request and ordered an investigation into the identity of "individual 5" mentioned in the expert report. Elazığ Police Department subsequently identified this individual as businessman Hasan Celal Kaya and provided his identity and address details to the court.
Reflecting on the identification of the attacker after two years, Batmaz commented, "The initial expert report aimed to exonerate the perpetrators. The new report revealed that the second person who assaulted me was Hasan Celal Kaya, whose wedding was officiated by Mayor Şerifoğulları. It seems that both the mayor and Kaya were being protected. If we hadn't persistently followed this case for two years, the attackers would have gone unpunished. We hope that legal proceedings will now be initiated against the identified individual. We will continue to fight until the perpetrators receive the justice they deserve."
The trial continues as the court seeks to ensure accountability for those involved in the assault on Batmaz while he was performing his duties as a journalist.
