Istanbul, October 16, 2024—CPJ expressed deep concern after a recently released recording of an August 15 press conference included comments from Tatvan Mayor Mümin Erol, in which Erol told reporters that he would attack journalist Sinan Aygül if he could and congratulated the former mayor’s bodyguards, who attacked and hospitalized the journalist in June 2023.
“Unfortunately, the change of power in the local government of Tatvan did not favor journalist Sinan Aygül, who was prosecuted and assaulted because of his reporting during the former mayor’s administration. Now, the current mayor has threatened him,” said Özgür Öğret, CPJ’s Turkey representative. “Mayor Mümin Erol should publicly apologize for his violent comments about Aygül, and local authorities must ensure Aygül’s safety. Politicians should always refrain from threatening journalists, an action for which there can never be an excuse or reasoning.”
Erol, a member of the pro-Kurdish DEM party, was elected mayor of Tatvan, a city in the eastern province of Bitlis, in March, beating a candidate from the leading Justice and Development Party (AKP). “Sinan will know his place,” Erol said in the recording. “We will teach him his lesson.”
Aygül, who was not present at the August 15 press conference, told CPJ he believes the reason for the threat was his reporting on three expensive cell phones that were allegedly bought for the mayor and his aides. Aygül, who is also the chair of the local trade group Bitlis Journalists Society, said he would soon file a criminal complaint.
Read also
A representative of Tatvan city’s press desk told CPJ by phone that they would not comment on the recording.
Aygül was found guilty of “insulting” the bodyguards who attacked him in January 2024 and was later charged with “threatening” his attackers. Aygül told CPJ that while he was separately acquitted of these charges, prosecutors have appealed.
Committee to Protect Journalist
In the photo: The mayor of Tatvan threatened Sinan Aygül (shown), chief editor of the privately owned website Bitlis News and chair of the Bitlis Journalists Society, during a press conference on August 15, 2024. The recording was released in October 2024. (Photo: courtesy of Sinan Aygül)