OSCE Media Freedom Representative deplores physical attacks on journalists in Turkey, urges authorities to swiftly bring all responsible to justice
VIENNA, 16 May 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, strongly condemned today the physical attacks against journalists that took place in Turkey over the past week.
On 15 May, journalist İdris Özyol was beaten by an unidentified group of people in front of the office of his newspaper, Akdeniz Yeni Yüzyıl, in Antalya. He was immediately taken to the local hospital. According to media reports, Özyol previously received threats from a local politician, as a result of his journalistic work.
“I am deeply concerned about the safety of journalists in Turkey. This is the second physical attack in one week, which is a clear signal that media professionals need stronger protection. Public condemnation at the highest level is crucial and would send a strong message that assaults against journalists will not be tolerated,” Désir said.
The Representative also recalled the attack last weekend against the journalist Yavuz Selim Demirağ of the Yeniçağ newspaper, who sustained serious injuries after being attacked in Ankara. Police detained six suspects who were conditionally released, reportedly on the grounds that "the state of health of the victim was not life-threatening".
“This negative trend needs to be reversed. I call on the authorities to swiftly investigate all attacks against journalists and bring those responsible to justice. Journalists need to be safe in order to do their jobs and inform citizens on issues of public interest. Impunity for attacks on members of the media is unacceptable,” Désir said.
Désir recalled the OSCE Ministerial Decision on Safety of Journalists, which calls on “political leaders, public officials and/or authorities to refrain from intimidating, threatening or condoning – and to unequivocally condemn – violence against journalists, in order to reduce the risks or threats that journalists may face and avoid undermining trust in the credibility of journalists as well as respect for the importance of independent journalism”.