US Embassy in Ankara condemns Hürriyet attack, defends press freedom

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

The United States Embassy in Turkey has condemned the Sept. 6 attack on the daily Hürriyet headquarters in Istanbul, in a post shared via its official Twitter account both in English and Turkish.

“We condemn the violent attacks on Hurriyet. Media freedom is a bedrock principle of all democratic societies,” it stated.

“Elected officials must be careful not to appear to encourage attacks on media.  All parties should support freedom of the press,” the embassy added.

(1/2) We condemn the violent attacks on #Hurriyet. #Media freedom is a bedrock principle of all democratic societies. #PressFreedom

— US Embassy Turkey (@USEmbassyTurkey) 8 Eylül 2015

(2/2) #Terörle mücadelede #Türkiye’nin yanındayız. #PKK’ya şiddetten vazgeçmesi ve #barış sürecine dönmesi yönündeki çağrımızı yineliyoruz.

— US Embassy Turkey (@USEmbassyTurkey) 8 Eylül 2015

Around 150 pro-government protesters convened in front of Hürriyet’s headquarters in Istanbul’s Bağcılar district late on Sept. 6 and attacked security personnel at the outer gate before forcing their way to the building’s main entrance, which they pelted with stones, chanting pro-government slogans.