From the Journalists Association of Turkey: Strong condemnation of MHP official's 'bullet' message targeting journalists

Burak Kılıç, Deputy Chairman of the Ülkü Ocakları (Idealist Hearths), targeted and threatened journalists Barış Terkoğlu, Timur Soykan, Alican Uludağ, İsmail Saymaz, and Erk Acarer, who are covering the Sinan Ateş trial. Following this incident, a strong statement was issued by the Journalists Association of Turkey.

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From the Journalists Association of Turkey: Strong condemnation of MHP official's 'bullet' message targeting journalists

MHP official Kılıç had threatened journalists İsmail Saymaz, Timur Soykan, Barış Terkoğlu, Alican Uludağ, and Erk Acarer on his social media account by making a reference using the word "bullet." A statement regarding the matter came from the Journalists Association of Turkey.

'BULLET' THREAT AGAINST JOURNALISTS

Ülkü Ocakları Deputy Chairman Kılıç used the following expressions in his threat-filled post: "We are not fountain pens filled by EU and US funds; we are lead pencils. You will surely see one day that lead pencils will also prevail."

The statement drew a major reaction from the public. The Board of Directors of the Journalists Association of Turkey issued a statement regarding the threats made against journalists.

In the statement, it was expressed that threatening journalists is a crime, and that those who do not initiate proceedings against those who threaten journalists are also committing a crime.

On the other hand, it was pointed out that these threats against journalists constitute a dangerous freedom that does not exist in law and is capable of leading to a journalist's murder at any moment.

The following statements were used in the announcement:

“FREELY USING THE WORD 'BULLET' AGAINST JOURNALISTS CAN LEAD TO A JOURNALIST'S MURDER”

“We see that politicians believe they have the freedom to target journalists, cause them to be subjected to physical attacks, lead to them being fired, campaign to ensure media outlets are not watched, and make posts using the word 'bullet' while publishing their photos.

This freedom, which does not exist in law, is a freedom dangerous enough to lead to a journalist's murder at any moment.

MHP officials, who are partners in the ruling coalition, add a new one every day to their statements that target the life and job security of our colleagues.

“IT IS A CRIME FOR OUR COLLEAGUES TO BE THREATENED BY MHP OFFICIALS”

The duty of journalists is to serve the citizens' right to receive news and learn the truth. Investigating the true face of political murders is one of these. It is a crime for our colleagues who report on the Sinan Ateş murder and trial to be regularly threatened by MHP officials.

Finally, Burak Kılıç, Deputy Chairman of the Ülkü Ocakları Education and Culture Foundation, made a statement targeting journalists İsmail Saymaz, Timur Soykan, Barış Terkoğlu, Alican Uludağ, and Erk Acarer, who are following the Sinan Ateş trial.

Burak Kılıç shared a visual containing the photos and names of the journalists and used the expressions, 'We are not fountain pens filled by EU and US funds; we are lead pencils. You will surely see one day that lead pencils will also prevail.'

“WE INVITE THE JUDICIARY AND THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR TO TAKE ACTION”

We condemn this post and invite the judiciary and the Ministry of Interior to take action. It is a crime for politicians to threaten journalists. It is also a crime for those who should take precautions regarding these threats to do nothing. We remind that journalists, like all citizens, must have their life and job security protected; we present to the public's knowledge that we stand in solidarity with all our threatened colleagues.”