Journalist İdris Özyol, well known for his opposition to the Turkish government’s dictatorial rule, was attacked by the ultra-nationalist notorious Grey Wolves gang last May 14^th, 2019.

His independent and critical stand against the Turkish government attracted attention of the infamous MHP party which is in power in coalition with the AKP, the religious, corrupt, majority party.

MHP, since its inception decades ago, has been an ultra-nationalist, racist, and openly pro-NAZI organization in Turkey. It is currently in coalition as the junior partner of the government, providing the street gangs under its organization to silence all critics. Espousing Turkish racism against all non-Turks, but especially against the Kurdish, Alevi, Jewish, Armenian and Arab population, the MHP party enjoys its street gang youth organization of the Grey Wolves who are employed when muscle is needed for illegal endeavors.

Journalist İdris Özyol, writing in the local daily Akdeniz’de Yeni Yüzyıl in the southern province of Antalya was attacked by three assailants in front of the paper last May after he received threats that his articles were offending the powers to be.  The attackers, armed with thick sticks, fled on foot after breaking Özyol’s nose and inflicting wounds to his left arm and face. The journalist was rushed to the hospital.

The attack last May came at the heels of another attack on another journalist Yavuz Selim who was similarly attacked in front of his home.  The attackers were quickly found and detained only to be released soon.

İdris Özyol’s attack also came soon after a local ultra-nationalist politician from the MHP, Talu Bilgili, had openly threatened the journalist in a public City Hall meeting. The journalists in support of their colleagues demanded an investigation in the politician’s involvement in the attack. One of the attackers was the driver of Talu Bilgin. Bilgin immediately tried distancing himself from the incident by declaring he had nothing to do with the attack.

The journalist association ÇGD condemned the attack and issued statements that said the attacks on journalists were actually attacks on the freedom of press.

With the escalation of attacks on the journalists, the pro-government forces are trying to silence even any minute resemblance of opposition in media.  However, this attempt to quell dissent proves nearly impossible since the corruption, theft, nepotism, irregular contracts, bribery, unlawful practices, usage of brutal force, economic decline and favoritism have gone through the roof. Everyday a new charge surfaces either against the majority party AKP in the government or its junior partner, the MHP.

“Expression Interrupted” a site that follows freedom of expression  documents that in the two-week period during these attacks five journalists were assaulted in Turkey.

After İdris Özyol recovered from the previous attack few months back, he was reported missing two days ago.  This raised concerns on his well-being since he was the target of pro-government thugs.

While friends and relatives searched for him for two days, he was discovered to be in the hospital.  Witnesses said he was found in the middle of the road unconscious and taken to the nearest hospital.  It was later revealed that İdris Özyol had had a brain hemorrhage.  It is not known if this was caused by the damage he received when the MHP thugs attacked him and received head wounds.

Sendika.Org News (M.B.)