Deniz Tekin
A previous decision not to prosecute a man who verbally and physically assaulted a Rûdaw TV crew on camera in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakır has been overturned, and a criminal case has now been filed. The defendant, Mesut Kızmaz, faces up to four years in prison on charges of “threat” and “insult.”
The incident, which took place in January 2024, involved Rûdaw TV Diyarbakır Bureau Chief Maşallah Dekak and cameraman Mehmet Kanevi, who were reporting in front of the historic Ulu Mosque. Kızmaz was captured on video threatening and attacking the journalists, yelling, “This is Diyarbakır, you can’t speak Kurdish here. This is the Republic of Turkey. I’ll shove that microphone up your ass.”
Despite the video footage, the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had initially ruled there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges, issuing a decision of non-prosecution. In response, the journalists’ attorney, Hişyar Özalp, appealed the ruling to the Diyarbakır Criminal Judgeship of Peace, arguing that the footage had not even been reviewed and that the investigation was flawed and incomplete.
The court found the appeal justified and revoked the decision of non-prosecution, instructing the prosecutor’s office to prepare an indictment. A case was subsequently filed against Kızmaz, seeking a sentence ranging from 9 months to 4 years in prison for threats and insults.
Journalist Dekak: “I was targeted and had to report without safety”
Following the court's decision, journalist Maşallah Dekak gave a statement highlighting the difficulties of reporting in the Kurdish language in southeastern Turkey:
“Doing journalism in this region is already hard enough, but we do it in Kurdish. Because we report in Kurdish, we face more prejudice, attacks, and discrimination than our Turkish-speaking colleagues. In the incident that led to this trial, the attacker came directly at me and my outlet, threatening and insulting us. The video of the attack was shared on social media with racist commentary for days. I was targeted and forced to continue reporting without personal safety."
Dekak added that threats, exclusion from press briefings, and denial of press accreditation have long been part of the job. "The only reason this case got attention is because the attack was caught on camera. There have been countless other threats and obstructions that were never recorded. I hope the pressure on journalists—regardless of where it comes from—comes to an end,” he said.
Prosecutor finds sufficient evidence after initial dismissal
In the indictment accepted by the Diyarbakır 12th Criminal Court of First Instance, both Dekak and Kanevi are listed as complainants. The document highlights that the attack was motivated by previous broadcasts on Rûdaw TV and includes the defendant’s threats and insults captured on video. The prosecutor determined there was enough suspicion to pursue a public trial.
The indictment also notes that Kızmaz had previously been convicted of similar offenses and requests that the court apply repeat-offender provisions. The case was sent to the mediation bureau, as required by Turkish Penal Code procedures for such charges, but no resolution was reached.
Journalists’ request to join trial accepted, attacker remains in custody
At the first hearing held in May, both Dekak and Kanevi reiterated their complaint and requested to participate in the trial. The court approved their request, citing the likelihood that they were harmed by the alleged crime.
The defendant, Mesut Kızmaz, is currently being held at the Alanya L-Type Closed Prison in connection with a separate offense and did not attend the hearing. The court ordered prison authorities to ensure Kızmaz is present at the next hearing, scheduled for Oct. 22, 2025.
