Turkey: Police violence against reporters not prosecuted as Governor obstructs investigation

The local administration in Istanbul obstructed an investigation into the harassment, insulting and threatening of journalists by the police, Turkey's Journalists' Union (TGS) said on Monday.

TGS earlier filed charges against the police for beating, insulting and threatening seven reporters and spraying pepper gas on their faces during a demonstration on 31 May, and for lawlessly detaining six reporters, who were handcuffed behind the back in the process.

While the prosecution applied to the Governorship of Istanbul to obtain permission to identify and prosecute the police officers involved in the incident, the Governorship replied more than three months later saying that the suspects could not be identified.

TGS said in a statement:

"Istanbul's Governor Ali Yerlikaya told us in a letter that the police officers could not be identified, that there is no need for a criminal investigation or a disciplinary inquiry, and that the case is closed. This attitude of Istanbul's Governorship is likely to encourage further attacks on journalists, and is unacceptable."

It added:

"We will follow up on this lawless decision and take the necessary legal actions to ensure that the journalists can report freely."