Following the criminal complaint of the Legal Unit of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) on charges of “misconduct in office”, “threat” and “violation of the freedom to work and labor”, the Directorate General of Security launched an investigation against police chief Hanifi Zengin, who threatened journalists.
During the İstanbul Pride March on August 26, 2022, he was filmed laughingly touching a woman while she was running away, which led to a criminal complaint against him on charge of “harassment”. On July 7, 2022, he was filmed battering the health workers who were protesting violence in healthcare and the journalists who were covering the protest (August 28).
The İstanbul Governor’s Office did not give a permission for investigation against İstanbul Security Department Head Hanifi Zengin. As a justification for the decision, it was said, “No element of threat was detected” (October 9).
The İstanbul Regional Court of Justice annulled the Governor’s Office decision not giving a permission for investigation against Hanifi Zengin, the İstanbul Security Branch Head, who was charged with threat, battery and insult, and requested an investigation against him (November 25).
