Turkish journalists rally for press freedom amid pressure

Turkish journalists have rallied in Istanbul in a show of solidarity with their colleagues who have been facing politically-motivated attacks and threats in the past weeks.

After the protest started in the Beyo?lu district's Tünel neighborhood on Oct. 3, journalists marched to Galatasaray Square with a placard reading "Free press cannot be silenced."

Dozens of prominent journalists, including Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Sedat Ergin, Hürriyet Daily News Editor-in-Chief Murat Yetkin, Hürriyet columnist Tufan Türenç and Hürriyet Digital Coordinator Bülent Mumay, joined the protest.

"From issues about freedom of the press, we arrived at a point where we don't even have life safety. We have serious concerns," Press Council President P?nar Türenç said in a statement on behalf of protesters, condemning recent threats and attacks.

Hürriyet's Istanbul headquarters were pelted with stones by mobs on Sept. 6 and Sept. 8. The newspaper's prominent columnist Ahmet Hakan was injured in an assault by four men in front of his home on Oct. 1.

"We won't leave Turkey to these bandits and bullies. We are here to show it," Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ergin said, stressing that similar rallies can be organized each Saturday if needed.

A number of politicians from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) also attended the rally. 

"Those who cannot confront criticism with words resort to slander, lies and threats. And when slander is not enough, they resort to violence," HDP deputy Garo Paylan said after the rally.

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