Governor in Van rejects investigation into police officer who threatened journalists with death

The Van Governor's Office did not allow an investigation to be launched against a police officer who threatened journalists with death.

The journalists, who followed a World Peace Day rally organized by the People's Democratic Party (HDP) in Van on 1 September 2022, were beaten and threatened with death by the police.

One of the journalists who followed the rally, Mesut Bağcı, was beaten and his camera was broken by the police. Moreover, anti-terror police threatened Mezopotamya New Agency (MA) reporter Berivan Kutlu and JINNEWS reporter Zelal Tunç with death. A police officer pointed a gun at JINNEWS reporter Elfazi Toral, threatening other journalists with death.

After the incident, the journalists filed a criminal complaint with the Van Public Prosecutor's Office. However, Van Governor's Office did not allow an investigation into a police officer named M.K. The governor's office accused the journalists of "reporting news in favour of a (terrorist) organization and flouting the police force. The governor's office claimed that the police officer pulled his gun on the journalists in order to protect himself and his personal gun.

The journalists will appeal to the Van Regional Administrative Court.