PRESS FREEDOM

Cameraman Ertuğrul Yılmaz from local television channel Kanal 48 was attacked when he was recording footage of rubble that had been dropped in a forest belonging to the İçmeler Municipality as a part of the city of Marmara on the western Mediterranean coast. 45-year-old Yılmaz was hospitalized due to the injuries suffered from the attack on 3 February.

Akay Öztürk and Şenol Şahin had informed the television channel about the incident. Yılmaz was exposed to the assault on the scene while he was fulfilling his duty as a reporter.

Injuries suffered from the assault

Yılmaz went to the area which lies within the scope or responsibility of the Marmaris Forestry Directorate together with Öztürk and Şahin. However, while taking pictures of the scene, he encountered the angry reactions of Osman Kaz and his son Ömer.

Aiming to prevent the recording, Osman and Ömer Kaz assaulted the cameraman. Şenol Şahin was attacked as well when he tried to stop the father and the son from attacking the reporter. Yılmaz and his two companions subsequently drove away from the scene to avoid further exposure to violence.

As a result of the severe assault, the cameraman suffered from a broken nose, a broken rib and bruises all over his body. Furthermore his left eye got bruised and was swollen to an extent that Yılmaz could not open it anymore. Yılmaz underwent treatment in the Marmaris State Hospital.

Channel director Balcı filed a complaint

Kanal 48 General Director Cemal Balcı filed a complaint with the two aggressors at the Marmaris Gendarmerie Command on the grounds of the attack against reporter Yılmaz. An investigation into the matter is being carried out.

Democratic Party (DP) Mayor of İçmeler Zeki Eren stated, "We are going to investigate who dropped the rubble and will punish the responsible people accordingly".

No prevention of violence against journalists

The annual Media Monitoring Report of 2009, published by the Independent Communication Network (BİA), reveals that journalists constitute targets for violence all over the country.

27 journalists and the Bizim Kocaeli newspaper were subject of attacks in Turkey throughout the last year. Six journalists were threatened because of their news items, columns, criticism and comments. (EÖ/VK)

Click here for a summary of the 2009 BİA Media Monitoring Report.