The Media and Legal Studies Association (MLSA) held a press statement in front of Çağlayan Courthouse with regard to the police violence against journalists who were covering the commemoration event in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on the 6th anniversary of the Suruç massacre.

The protestors displayed a banner that said “We can't breathe, journalism cannot be silenced”, as well as photos and placards showing the violence experienced by the journalists who were covering the commemoration event.

Along with journalists who were subjected to police violence, numerous journalists and the representatives of the Revolutionary Workers' Unions Confederation (DİSK), press union Basın İş, Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) joined the event.

The slogans “Repression cannot intimidate us” and “Free press cannot be silenced” were frequently chanted during the press statement.

Meral Danyıldız, a female journalist for the Birgün Newspaper, read out the statement saying that 10 days have passed since the attack they experienced, but no legal action has been taken yet against the police officers who used violence.

'ATTACKS HAVE INCREASED'

Reminding of the violence against journalist Bülent Kılıç who was battered by the police while covering this year’s Pride march in Taksim, Istanbul, Basın İş Chair Faruk Eren said that attacks against journalists have increased following that day.

TGS Chair Gökhan Durmuş pointed out that even though the attacks against journalists have increased, the police officers involved benefit from impunity.

Following the press statement, journalists Yasin Akgül, Fatoş Erdoğan and Emre Orman who were subjected to police violence filed a criminal complaint together with MLSA lawyers.