Turkish Police Seek to Prevent Being Filmed at Protests

Policeman in a road in Turkey, whose police officers have been instructed to prevent citizens from filming them during demonstrations, said a prominent lawyers group on Friday. (AP)
Policeman in a road in Turkey, whose police officers have been instructed to prevent citizens from filming them during demonstrations, said a prominent lawyers group on Friday. (AP)
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Turkish Police Seek to Prevent Being Filmed at Protests

Policeman in a road in Turkey, whose police officers have been instructed to prevent citizens from filming them during demonstrations, said a prominent lawyers group on Friday. (AP)
Policeman in a road in Turkey, whose police officers have been instructed to prevent citizens from filming them during demonstrations, said a prominent lawyers group on Friday. (AP)

Turkish police have been instructed to prevent citizens from filming them while policing demonstrations, a prominent lawyers group has said, sparking criticism and fears the move could lead to increased human rights’ violations.

The Progressive Lawyers Association posted on its Twitter account a document purporting to be a security department circular.

The document, dated April 27 and signed by national police chief Mehmet Aktas, argues that the filming of police officials amounts to a violation of their right to privacy and prevents them from carrying out their duties.

It then instructs officers to prevent people from using their cellphones to record or film police during demonstrations, and calls on them to “take legal action” if needed, The Associated Press reported.

There was no official confirmation of the instruction to police, which was also reported by several media outlets.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, said Friday that the move could lead to increased police brutality and amounted to “authoritarianism at its finest.”

“They will do whatever they want, bully as they please,” said CHP spokesman Faik Oztrak.

“They will step on the people with their knees placed on their heads, but people will not be able to shoot this with their cellphones.”

He was referring to an image showing a Turkish police officer placing his knee on the back of a protester who was lying face down on the ground during an early May Day protest in the city of Izmir.

The image was compared to those showing the arrest of George Floyd, whose death in the United States last year caused widespread protests and international condemnation.



Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Criticizes UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
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Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Criticizes UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticized UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi on Thursday and accused the International Atomic Energy Agency of being a partner to an "unjust war of aggression" initiated by Israel.

In a post on X, Baghaei responded to an interview with CNN in which Grossi said there was no evidence of a systematic Iranian effort to develop nuclear weapons.

"This is too late, Mr. Grossi," Baghaei wrote, adding that an IAEA resolution declaring Iran in breach of its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty had been used as a pretext for Israel to strike Iran.

"Misleading narratives have dire consequences, Mr. Grossi, and demand accountability. You betrayed the non-proliferation regime; You've made IAEA a partner to this unjust war of aggression," he wrote.