A Turkish journalist who was rebuked by a far-right party leader with a suggestion that she should perhaps quit journalism after she asked him a question on Tuesday, said she will continue to pursue journalism and ask questions, the Kısa Dalga news website reported.
Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli, an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has drawn the condemnation of press organizations and journalists for his reprimand of journalist Hilal Köylü of the Serbestiyet news website.
When Köylü, who was among the reporters who asked Bahçeli questions following an MHP parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, asked the politician a question about an alleged rift between him and Erdoğan over the launch of a new peace process with the country’s Kurds, Bahçeli responded by scolding the journalist.
He said members of the press should avoid actions that could lead to provocation and foment polarization in the country by spreading disinformation.
“If you cannot, quit the profession,” an angry Bahçeli told Köylü.
Köylü, who was showered by messages of solidarity from fellow journalists and press organizations, was defiant in a video message she posted on social media later in the day.
She said she only asked Bahçeli a legitimate professional question about an issue on the country’s agenda, adding that she does not have any intention to quit journalism.
“I certainly will not quit my profession. In this country, both politicians and journalists will do their jobs,” she said.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism, a New York-based press advocacy group, in statement on Tuesday condemned Bahçeli’s behavior toward Köylü, whom the group described as a “respected reporter” and asked for a public apology.
“Intimidation in Türkiye’s political sphere is growing — the press must be free to hold leaders accountable without fear of reprisal, discredit, or insult. We demand a public apology and an end to efforts to undermine critical journalists,” the group said, adding that it is the duty of journalists to ask tough questions, even if uncomfortable.
Rights groups routinely accuse Turkey of undermining media freedom by arresting journalists and shutting down critical media outlets, particularly since President Erdoğan survived a failed coup attempt in July 2016.
Turkey, which has had a poor record on freedom of the press for years, ranked 158th among 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index published in May.