Journalist Sinan Aygül injured in assault by mayor's bodyguards

Two individuals who attacked journalist Sinan Aygül in Tatvan, Bitlis, were arrested yesterday.

The arrests come after the surfacing of security camera footage showing the assault that took place a day before. The footage showed that during the attack, the mayor's bodyguard and a police officer were present, actively preventing bystanders from intervening.

In a social media post, Aygül described the attack, stating that he was assaulted by the individuals who emerged from a municipal vehicle. They struck him on the head and issued threats, warning him against writing about the mayor.

Aygül, visibly shaken, expressed his ordeal and announced that he was being taken to Tatvan State Hospital for medical attention.

Previously, the journalist had made allegations of irregularities in relation to the immovable properties of municipalities in a separate social media post.

Mayor Geylani responded to the incident on his Twitter account, denying any involvement and expressing his lack of connection to the unfortunate event. He stated that he had contacted Aygül to convey his wishes for a speedy recovery.

Geylani clarified that he was in Ankara at the time of the attack, and he announced that the assailant, a municipal employee identified as Y.B, had been dismissed from duty. He further expressed his intention to return to Tatvan to visit journalist Aygül.

In an official statement, the Bitlis Governor's Office addressed the attack, announcing that both Y.B, the municipal employee, and E.K, the police officer, were under an administrative investigation for their involvement in the assault.

The statement emphasized that both criminal and administrative inquiries have been initiated, and E.K has been suspended from duty pending further investigation.

Aygül, who leads the Bitlis Journalists Association, frequently reports on corruption and irregularities in the region. He has faced several court cases over his reporting. (VK)