Turkish-language Zaman paper offices attacked in France

PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, condemned attacks on the Paris and Cologne offices of the Turkish-language daily newspaper Zaman and called for a thorough investigation, OSCE website reports.

“The attacks on Zaman’s editorial offices not only create fear in those directly affected but they also damage media freedom by attempting to silence journalists for their reporting,” Mijatović said.

On February 15, a masked group of alleged supporters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) entered the Paris offices of Zaman, breaking windows and equipment and threatening employees. On the same day in Cologne, alleged PKK supporters firebombed the newspaper’s offices.

“Attacks and intimidation against a media outlet and its journalists are unacceptable. I am relieved that no one was injured and that the French and German authorities have launched investigations,” Mijatović said. “I hope that the perpetrators will be soon brought to justice.”