In the Sur district of Diyarbakir, journalists who were on site to cover the elections were attacked with firearms amid a dispute over a neighborhood head (muhtar) election in Ağaçlıdere neighborhood. It was reported that a vehicle belonging to Anadolu Agency was hit by bullets as the journalists tried to leave the area. Following the incident, the Southeastern Journalists Association urgently called for the safety of journalists to be ensured.
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Statement from the Southeastern Journalists Association (GGC) In the Ağaçlı rural neighborhood of Diyarbakir's Sur district, our colleagues who went to the area to follow a fight that broke out due to the neighborhood head elections were subjected to an armed attack. Teams from Anadolu Agency, Demirören News Agency, and İhlas News Agency were fired upon while trying to evacuate the area, resulting in Anadolu Agency's vehicle being struck by bullets. Our colleagues managed to leave the scene by ambulance, their own vehicles, or on foot, and have moved to a safe area. In our communications with them, they have reported that there are currently no issues regarding their personal safety. While it is relieving that our colleagues were not harmed, this grave attack is a matter of great concern and fear for us. We strongly condemn this attack on press freedom and the public's right to information, as represented by our colleagues, and we call on the authorities to take action. We expect the assailants, who have become savage enough to shoot at journalists trying to flee the scene, to be apprehended and brought to justice as soon as possible. We urgently call on local administrators, security forces, and military personnel in the area to ensure the safety of journalists working on the ground. Board of Management of GGC |
