At least eight journalists were assaulted by police in Istanbul’s Saraçhane district during protests that erupted after the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. Reports and footage from the scene indicate that members of the press, who were visibly identifiable with press badges and equipment, were directly targeted during the police crackdown, prompting widespread criticism over the use of excessive force.
Journalists beaten, equipment damaged
During the police intervention, journalists were subjected to physical violence and damage to their professional equipment. Several reporters were reportedly shot with plastic bullets, while others were dragged on the ground and prevented from filming. Witnesses and victims described the violence as deliberate, despite their clear identification as members of the press.
List of assaulted journalists
According to information shared on social media, the following journalists were physically assaulted during the demonstrations that followed İmamoğlu’s detention:
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Hakan Akgün, reporter for state-run Anadolu Agency
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Yasin Akgül, photojournalist for Agence France-Presse (AFP)
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Dilara Şenkaya, reporter for Reuters
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Ali Dinç, reporter for Bianet
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Eylül Deniz Yaşar, reporter for İlke TV
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Kemal Aslan, freelance photojournalist
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Rojda Altıntaş, freelance journalist
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Yusuf Çelik, reporter for Özgür Gelecek
In a separate incident, Serkan Okur, a reporter for the pro-government Akit TV, was reportedly assaulted by protesters during the first day of demonstrations.
Press unions condemn attacks, call for accountability
The attacks have drawn sharp condemnation from professional organizations and press freedom advocates. The Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS) publicly called on the Interior Minister to instruct law enforcement to refrain from obstructing journalists from performing their duties. “This is a clear violation of press freedom,” the union stated.
Background: İmamoğlu’s detention sparks nationwide protests
Protests broke out in Istanbul and several other cities following the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is both the mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opposition candidate in Turkey’s upcoming presidential election. Demonstrators gathered in Saraçhane, a historic district near Istanbul’s city center and home to the municipality’s main building. Police responded forcefully, detaining numerous protesters and employing tactics widely criticized as disproportionate.
The violence against journalists during these protests has once again raised concerns over press freedom and the treatment of media professionals in Turkey, a country frequently criticized by international watchdogs for its restrictions on independent journalism.
