Journalist Hacı Bişkin testifies in trial of photojournalist Bülent Kılıç over Pride March arrest
In the trial of photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, who was violently arrested while covering the 2021 Istanbul Pride March, fellow journalist Hacı Bişkin testified, stating that Kılıç did not strike officers with his camera as alleged by the police. Kılıç, a former Agence France-Presse (AFP) photojournalist, is being charged with "resisting an officer" and "publicly insulting a public official" during his arrest.
The third hearing took place at Istanbul’s 19th Criminal Court of First Instance, with Kılıç and his defense team, led by MLSA Co-Director Veysel Ok and lawyer Emine Özhasar, in attendance. Bişkin recounted the incident, noting that Kılıç had a camera in hand and was clearly identifiable as a journalist when police forced him to the ground, pressing on his neck and shoulders.
‘He shouted, “I’m a journalist, I can’t breathe”’
Bişkin emphasized that Kılıç had not insulted or attacked the police and was simply trying to do his job. He testified that Kılıç repeatedly shouted, "I’m a journalist, I can’t breathe," while being arrested. Lawyer Veysel Ok also argued that the accusations were based on a false report and that there was no evidence of a crime.
Compensation awarded in separate case
Lawyer Emine Özhasar pointed out that in a separate case, an administrative court had ruled in favor of Kılıç, awarding him compensation for the police misconduct during his arrest. She stressed that this ruling confirmed the police's fault in the incident.
The court accepted one officer's request to join the case as a complainant, based on the possibility of harm from the alleged crime. The case was postponed to January 16, 2025, for the prosecution to prepare its final opinion.
