Aziz Oruç
Journalist Medine Mamedoğlu, who has received multiple death threats following her reporting and social media videos, remains undeterred in her profession. Speaking about her experiences in Van, Turkey, she said, "While doing my job in Van, I was subjected to violence, detained, and received death threats because of a video I shared. I have concerns, but I am not afraid."
During the protests against the non-issuance of an electoral certificate to Abdullah Zeydan, the elected mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, several journalists faced police brutality, had their work obstructed, equipment confiscated, and videos deleted. Journalists in Van, as well as in Istanbul, Hakkari, and Siirt, were beaten and detained. Mamedoğlu, who has been reporting in the region for a decade with a focus on women, children, and rights-based journalism, faced similar circumstances. She described sharing a video on social media showing the beating of a 12-year-old child by plainclothes police officers during the protests. Following the widespread attention the video received, she began receiving death threats and insults online.
Mamedoğlu recounted receiving threatening messages on social media, including statements like, "We will kill all of you," "We will torture you, traitor," and "We will show no mercy." Hours after these threats, she was beaten and detained in Van while performing her journalistic duties. During her detention, she was questioned about her presence at the scene, to which she responded that she was there for journalistic activities.
She has filed a complaint with the Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the death threats and plans to use all legal means available to her. Despite these threats, Mamedoğlu is not deterred, stating that the support from the public and her colleagues provides her with resilience and strength.
Mamedoğlu also discussed the broader challenges journalists face in the region, noting that threats and insults are common. She emphasized that journalists are often targeted in an attempt to suppress reporting on violations and corruption. These tactics aim to intimidate journalists, but Mamedoğlu and her colleagues remain committed to continuing their work and reporting on truth and justice.
Mamedoğlu described an incident where she was attacked while attempting to film a lawyer being assaulted during a protest. She was physically assaulted, her equipment was damaged, and she was subsequently detained. During her detention, she and other detained lawyers were threatened and subjected to further violence. They have since filed a complaint about the incident.
She highlighted the need for ending the culture of impunity and for applying the law to protect both the freedom of the press and the public's right to information. Mamedoğlu underscored her commitment to her profession and the responsibility journalists have to inform the public. She called for solidarity among journalists and emphasized the importance of strong organizational efforts to counter these challenges.
In conclusion, Mamedoğlu stressed that journalists face attacks because they shed light on issues like abuse, corruption, and human rights violations. Despite decades of pressure and attempts to silence them, journalists continue to perform their duty, highlighting the necessity to protect journalism and the public's right to information.
