Erdoğan's harsh reaction to journalists at group meeting: 'Lower your voice, you're making noise, the Chief is speaking!'

The controversial development occurred during the speech delivered by AK Party Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the group meeting held in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). While Erdoğan stated in his speech, "We have never been among those who arrogantly threaten members of the press," some AK Party members present in the assembly hall showed harsh reactions toward the journalists.

HARSH REACTION TO JOURNALISTS

During the meeting, as journalists following President Erdoğan's speech were taking notes, AK Party members sitting behind them chanted slogans loudly, saying, "The youth is here, by the side of their Chief." Amid the noise created by the slogans, some journalists had to issue a warning because they could not hear the speech clearly. At this moment, an AK Party member sparked the argument by shouting, "The Chief is speaking, aren't we going to listen, aren't we going to be here? Lower your voice, you're making noise, the Chief is speaking."

The journalists stated that they were only trying to do their jobs and were having difficulty hearing Erdoğan. The brief tension was calmed by the intervention of another party member, but the slogans rose again. No further tension occurred in the later minutes of the meeting.

The relevant section of President Erdoğan's speech was noteworthy in terms of its emphasis on press freedom and democracy. Erdoğan used the following expressions:

"From the expansion of rights and freedoms to the fight against oligarchic structures entrenched in the state; from pushing back political centers to strengthening the national will, we have signed the greatest reforms in the history of the republic in every field, and we have carried out silent revolutions in many areas. Unlike the main opposition, we have never been among those who talk about press freedom when it suits them, yet shake their fingers at the press from the podium just because they expose their corruption, or those who arrogantly threaten members of the press. We have shown tolerance for criticism and listened to constructive suggestions. In the face of lawlessness, we have sought our rights within the law. We have never resorted to anti-democratic methods such as 'we will shut that down, we will put a lock on that door, we will hold you all accountable.'"

PHYSICAL INTERVENTION BY SÜLEYMAN SOYLU AGAINST A JOURNALIST

Another tense moment that occurred before the meeting took place between former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and a reporter. As a question was being asked about the Gülistan Doku file, Süleyman Soylu intervened by grabbing the arm of the reporter who was asking the question, attempting to prevent the camera from recording. This attitude by Soylu brought the debates on press freedom to the agenda once again.

The recent events have once again brought the working conditions of members of the press under the roof of Parliament and the attitudes of politicians to the public agenda.