Despite repeatedly saying that 'I am a journalist,' the police forced Tugçe Yilmaz to the ground, pressing on their throat while physically assaulting them during the Newroz celebrations. Ali Dinç was also subjected to violent treatment. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has responded to a parliamentary inquiry regarding the violent treatment of bianet journalists Tugçe Yilmaz and Ali Dinç by police during the Newroz celebrations in Istanbul on Mar 18. Yerlikaya's response came six months after the inquiry and contained general expressions defending the proportionality of the police response, rather than directly addressing the issues raised. The inquiry was submitted by MP Aysegl Dogan from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. Yerlikaya avoided answering Dogan's questions about the number of journalists subjected to police violence or detained in the last five years during protests. Instead, he stated that police interventions occur only during illegal actions and are carried out i n line with laws to ensure public safety. He justified the police actions at the Newroz event, claiming all security measures were in accordance with the law to protect the safety of participants and citizens in the vicinity. Yerlikaya further noted that searches were conducted without discriminating by profession and that arrests were made based on the prosecutor's orders. Newroz is a traditional spring festival celebrated by various peoples across a vast region from Anatolia to Central Asia. It holds significant political importance as a symbol of Kurdish national identity, often resulting in the detention of Kurdish participants on terrorism-related charges in Turkey. Yilmaz's response to the minister bianet reporter Tugçe Yilmaz, who experienced severe violence during the event, criticized the minister's response. Yilmaz pointed out that possessing an official press card issued by the Presidency's Communications Directorate is not the sole marker of legitimate journalism. Yilmaz argued that many indep endent journalists do not receive these cards because they work for outlets critical of the government. Yilmaz called on the minister to address the core issue of police brutality, describing it as torture, which violates both human rights and international agreements Turkey has signed. '"Regardless of state repression, journalism is not a crime, and those who practice this profession cannot be silenced through pressure, torture, or threats. I will continue to fight by documenting the torture I endured, pursuing legal processes, and fostering professional solidarity,' said Yilmaz. On Mar 17, during the Newroz celebrations at Istanbul's Yenikapi Meeting Area, the police subjected journalists Tugçe Yilmaz and Ali Dinç to violence, and attempted to detain bianet Kurdish editor Aren Yildirim. Yilmaz was recording a police crackdown on participants when officers pushed Yilmaz to the ground and assaulted the journalist. Despite repeatedly saying that 'I am a journalist,' the police forced Yilmaz to the ground, p ressing on the journalist's throat while physically assaulting them. Being released shortly after without formal detention, Yilmaz obtained a medical report documenting their injuries and filed a complaint against the officers involved. Source: English Bianet