Turkish Journalists Face “Strip Search” Attempt at Parliament

Turkish journalists Tuğçe Tatari and Rengin Azizoğlu were blocked from entering the Turkish Parliament last week. The incident occurred at the Dikmen Gate as they attempted to cover a group meeting of the main opposition party, the CHP. Security guards at the gate insisted on conducting what they called a “detailed search” of the journalists. The journalists and their union, the Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGA), describe this demand as a “strip search attempt.” The TGA has strongly condemned the security measure. The union argues that the demand violates journalistic freedom and basic privacy rights. No injuries or arrests were reported, but the journalists were prevented from entering the building.