Istanbul, April 2, 2024\u2014Turkish authorities must not disregard the news media\u2019s legally protected right to observe the election process and must investigate the armed attack on a group of journalists in Diyarbak\u0131r, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Sunday\u2019s election day, the High Board of Elections (YSK) banned<\/a> reporters from observing the votes being counted<\/a> at some locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a legal right for Turkish journalists, according to a report<\/a> by local media freedom advocacy group MLSA. The group cited Article 82 of Turkey\u2019s election law, which says, \u201c\u2026Members of the media are free to obtain images and information around the ballot box for news purposes, provided that they do not interfere with the ballot box procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That same day, an unknown number of journalists from the official Anatolia Agency (AA), the pro-government Demir\u00f6ren News Agency, and pro-government \u0130hlas News Agency were shot at<\/a> while trying to get away from a location where they were covering an ongoing clash<\/a> over an election dispute in the southeastern province of Diyarbak\u0131r. The AA reporters\u2019 vehicle was hit by bullets, but nobody was injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile it was a welcome change that elections in Turkey were held without attacks on the media by the security forces, the ban on reporters observing the vote count and the armed assault on journalists in Diyarbak\u0131r demand further investigation,\u201d said \u00d6zg\u00fcr \u00d6\u011fret, CPJ\u2019s Turkey representative. \u201cTurkish authorities must prosecute those responsible for the Diyarbak\u0131r shooting and ensure that the legal rights of the media, which benefit the whole society and democracy, are always protected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan\u2019s Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered a major electoral defeat<\/a> during the local elections<\/a>. The party lost many municipalities and failed to retake major metropolises from the opposition despite its victory in the presidential<\/a> and parliamentary elections<\/a> of 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the second round of presidential elections on May 28, 2023,<\/a> at least two journalists were physically attacked, others were obstructed from their work, and one was briefly detained by the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CPJ\u2019s calls to the YSK and chief prosecutor\u2019s office in Diyarbak\u0131r for comment did not immediately receive a reply.<\/p>\n\n
\r\nThis content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists<\/a> and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.
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