ANKARA - Journalist Özge Uyanık, whose phone was broken by the police while shooting, filed a criminal complaint against the police.

 

Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) held a press release in front of the Ankara Courthouse regarding the violation of the rights of the Yol TV reporter Özge Uyanık, whose phone was taken from her while she was shooting the police attack during the Labor Day protests. Following the press release, a criminal complaint was filed against the relevant police officers at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

 

Özge and TGS Legal Counsel Meliha Selvi, TGS Ankara branch executive Alican Uludağ, Özge's lawyers, and CHP Ankara MP Gamze Taşçıer attended the statement.

 

‘We will follow violations of rights’

 

Emphasizing that there has been remarkable pressure on journalists in Turkey recently, Alican Uludağ pointed out that journalists have become unable to fulfill their duties. Drawing attention to the unlawfulness of the circular issued by the General Directorate of Security (EGM), Alican stated that it was against the constitution. Alican said: “As TGS, we will follow up violations of rights. We demand the withdrawal of the EGM's unlawful circular.”

 

‘We will continue to do our job’

 

Explaining the violation of her rights afterward, Özge underlined that it should be repeatedly said that the issued circular is against the law. Noting that her phone was taken from her hand and tread on it while she was shooting on May Day, Özge stated: “We will file a criminal complaint by the police who follow the unlawful instruction in this unlawful circular. Journalists were said to be exempted from the circular, but our example shows otherwise. We do not want to be prevented from shooting in public. From now on, we will continue to defend the public's right to information and to do our job.”

 

‘The press is free and cannot be censored’

 

TGS Legal Counsel Meliha Selvi stated that they will apply for the annulment of the circular as TGS. Emphasizing that it is said that “the press is free and cannot be violated” but the opposite is true, Meliha said: “The duty of the police is not against the citizen and the press, but to ensure their security. The press is free and cannot be censored. EGM circular is against the law. We will make the necessary applications for its cancellation.”

 

‘Turkey is moving away from being a state of law’

 

CHP Ankara MP Gamze Taşçıer said the following: “This is an intervention in the citizen's right to information. This circular should be withdrawn and necessary actions should be taken against those responsible. Turkey is moving away from being a state of law.”

 

After the press release, Özge and her lawyers filed a criminal complaint at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for "misconduct" against the police.