Attack on Al Jazeera camera crew condemned
Turkish Journalists’ Association calls on officials to investigate Monday’s assault on two cameramen in Istanbul.
The Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) has condemned the recent assault on two Al Jazeera journalists by riot police in Istanbul’s Taksim Square.
In a statement published on TGC’s website on Tuesday, the association called on the Istanbul governor and chief of police to identify the policemen responsible for the attack on Al Jazeera Turk cameramen, Kemal Sogukdere and Alper Cakici.
The two were beaten on Monday night in Taksim Square, the focal point of anti-government protests that swept the country.
“The inappropriate use of force for dispersing protests which began at Gezi Park in Istanbul … continue to target journalists,” the association said.
Another media organisation, the Progressive Journalists’ Association (CGD), said journalists were becoming targets to prevent the public from hearing about the ongoing police attacks.
The two Al Jazeera journalists were attacked while they were walking along Istiklal Street that runs through Taksim Square.
They were taken to the hospital for treatment after police hit them with batons and pulled them by the hair.