MEDIA MONITORING DATABASE
Verbal Attack by Devlet Bahçeli – Hilal Köylü
RELATED PERSON OR INSTITUTION
Hilal Köylü
CITY
Ankara
YEAR OF INTERFERENCE
2024
LAST UPDATED
07/08/2025
TYPE OF STATEMENT
Political
MEDIUM
Internet
Internet News Portal
THE TITLE OF WHOSE RIGHT IS INTERFERED
Journalist
RIGHTS GUARANTEED UNDER THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Right to Information Act
TYPE OF INTERFERENCE
Third-Party Interference
Threat or Harassment

12 November 2024
Journalist Hilal Köylü was verbally targeted by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli after asking, “Is there a disagreement between you and Erdoğan?” The question was interpreted as referring to political differences over the government’s previous approach to the Kurdish issue, including dialogue with the PKK. Bahçeli replied, “Dear members of the press, stop provoking Turkey with misleading and divisive information. If you can’t stop, quit your profession!”