National Press Bodies Condemn Attack On Daily Hürriyet

- A second attack on daily Hürriyet’s offices in Istanbul and Ankara on Sept. 8 has drawn reaction as national press bodies declared they stand by Hürriyet on press freedom.

Turkish national press bodies and representatives of some Turkish dailies have paid a visit to the daily Hürriyet headquarters in Istanbul’s Bağcılar district, condemning the attacks, on Sep. 9.

Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) head Turgay Olcayto, TGC Secretary General Sibel Güneş, Freedom for Journalists Platform (GÖP) head and head of the Turkey Journalists’ Labor Union (TGS) Uğur Güç, journalists’ union DİSK Basın-İş head Faruk Ören and daily Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar were among the group to visit daily Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Sedat Ergin.

Speaking in front of the door which was attacked at Hürriyet’s headquarters, Olcayto said the attack was also an attack on the nation’s right to get news and learn the truth, adding the government, for some time, did not want the citizens to be informed as the snap polls on Nov. 1 draw nearer.

Dündar said as long as journalists stood together, no one would be able to silence the press’ voice. He reassured they would always continue to mention the nation’s right to free news.