Protests were organized in many cities following the detention and arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. More than a thousand people were detained and nearly 300 people were arrested during the protests that started on March 19, mainly in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. 

 

 

Journalists covering the protests were detained as activists on charges of “Violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”. 

 

In this context, 7 journalists were detained in Istanbul and released 2 days after their arrest. In Izmir, journalists Yağız Barut and Barış İnce and photojournalist Murat Kocabaş were detained for covering the protests. 3 journalists detained on March 24 were released on March 27. 

 

DETENTIONS IS A CONSCIOUS SITUATION

 

Noting that the protests were a reflection of the anger stemming from many problems in the country, Photojournalist Murat Kocabaş stated that it was a responsibility to follow the protests that started after İmamoğlu's detention. Emphasizing that violence against journalists is not a new situation, Kocabaş said, “While doing our job, we usually stay between the protesters and the police. We are in the field without any money worries. Because this is our job. We are doing a public work and we are in the field with the responsibility of this. It is our duty to reflect the truth to the people. From the day the protests started until the 23rd, I followed the protests and took photos. I also took photos of police violence. I tried to photograph police violence and attacks in Bayraklı and Alsancak district.” 

 

Kocabaş stated that he was not surprised to be detained and said, “We were always in a conflict with the police. They prevented us from doing our work and did not allow us to show the violence they inflicted on people. When I was following the protests, I was subjected to the violence of the riot police. They kicked me when I was choking from the gas. I walked with a limp for two or three days. Then they detained me under Law No. 2911 (Violating Laq on Meetings and Demonstrations), not as a journalist but as a protester. The government actually aims to create its own journalists by criminalizing journalists. This is why censorship has been going on for years. In previous years they used to kill journalists or people who could reach the public. Nowadays, they use violence close to killing journalists. We get bruises on our bodies after many protests. The detention of us or our friends in Istanbul is a conscious situation. Because we are the ones who show the violence there most clearly. The international press saw this violence, but the government does not and will not want to show this. In this regard, photojournalists and cameramen are hindered in many parts of the world as they are here.”  

 

Describing their detention experience, Kocabaş added: “We had no information about what was going on outside. In a way we were censored inside. Lawyers were somehow giving news. Somehow I have to be on the street. It has become a way of life for us. I think journalists in Turkey are alone in this regard. Even though we photojournalists work freelance, the photographs we take can remain as history or mobilize the masses. We need to act in unity without giving in to pressure. We especially want journalists working in the field to be given more importance.”