At least six journalists were detained as police broke up a demonstration held on the anniversary of Gezi protests

Police intervened in a demonstration held on 31 May in downtown İstanbul to mark the ninth anniversary of nationwide Gezi Park protests of 2013, detaining over 100 people including journalists.

At least six journalists were detained and many others were battered by police forces during the demonstration in Taksim district, according to the Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS) and several news reports. Journalists who were detained during the police intervention were identified as Ozan Demiriz from Halk TV, Dilan Polat, Sevda Doğan and Derin Aydoğdu from Flash TV, BirGün correspondent Gökay Başcan and Evrensel correspondent Meltem Akyol. They were released in the early morning on 1 June after giving their statements to the police.

Some media reports said the number of people detained in Taksim was as high as 169.

AFP photo reporter Bülent Kılıç and journalist Hayri Tunç were hit with tear gas at close range during the police intervention.

“Police attacked right to information”

Journalists’ groups condemned detentions and police violence against journalists.

“Violence against our colleagues is a crime against humanity. Detention of the journalists is unlawful”, Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) said in a statement. “Journalism is not a crime. By detaining journalists, right to information has been attacked. We demand that the security forces who exercised violence on our colleagues be prosecuted and not be rewarded with impunity. We call on the government and security forces to respect law, as well as freedom of press and speech,” it further said.

TGS also condemned the police intervention, saying “neither protest nor journalism is a crime.” It also called on the authorities to take necessary measures against those who were responsible.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu said, “Those who are uncomfortable with journalists’ being witnesses to public protests targeted the media again in Taksim.”