The imposition of a press blackout following the June 28 Istanbul Ataturk Airport Massacre has drawn attention to the government’s method of dealing with past massacres. In the wake of previous massacres, no AKP officials responsible resigned, yet they always imposed a press blackout

On December 28, 2011 Roboski Massacre, in response, then-PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his gratitude to the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish Air Force. None of those politically responsible for the massacre resigned — although they did enact a ban on reporting on the events.

On May 11, 2013 Reyhanlı Massacre, some 54 people died, a Turkish district on the border with Syria that had been under the threat of jihadists. Again, no one resigned, but the government did impose a ban on reporting the incident.

On May 13, 2014 Soma Massacre, 301 miners died. As before, no one resigned, but the public was denied the right to news about the massacre.

On June 5, 2015 Diyarbakır Massacre, Four Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) supporters were killed, while 400 more were injured in a bombing at a party. No one resigned, while news about the attack was banned.

On July 20, 2015 Suruç Massacre, thirty-three revolutionaries were killed. Like their predecessors, no politician quit because of the killings, but they did prohibit the dissemination of news about the incident.

On October 10, 2015 Ankara Massacre, at least 100 people were killed. The government promptly imposed a press blackout on the incident and, naturally, no one resigned.

On January 12, 2016 Sultanahmet Massacre, at least 10 people were killed. The government promptly imposed a press blackout on the incident and, naturally, no one resigned.

On February 17, 2016 Ankara Massacre, at least 29 people were killed. The government promptly imposed a press blackout on the incident and, naturally, no one resigned.

On March 13, 2016 Ankara Massacre, 37 people were killed while 125 more were injured. The government promptly imposed a press blackout on the incident and, naturally, no one resigned.

On March 19, 2016 Istanbul Istiklal Street Massacre, 4 people were killed. The government promptly imposed a press blackout on the incident and, naturally, no one resigned.

On June 7, 2016 Istanbul Vezneciler Massacre, 12 people (5 of whom are police) were killed. The government promptly imposed a press blackout on the incident and, naturally, no one resigned.

On June 28, 2016 Istanbul Ataturk Airport Massacre, 41 people were killed while 239 more were injured. AKP (Justice and Development Party) promptly imposed a press blackout on the incident and, naturally, no one resigned.

Sendika.Org