People's Party (HP) Secretary General Devran Vudalı issued a strongly worded statement condemning the insults and aggressive conduct displayed by certain individuals towards journalists on the day of Fatma Ünal's verdict hearing. In his written statement, Vudalı declared: "I strongly condemn the insults, aggressive attitudes and all forms of behaviour targeting members of the press!"
Emphasising that "journalism is not a crime," Vudalı reminded the public that defending the people's right to information, keeping the public informed and reporting events to society are among the most fundamental duties of journalists. He added that no one has the right to threaten, humiliate or silence members of the press carrying out these duties.
Drawing attention to the existence of a mentality in Northern Cyprus that considers itself untouchable and acts without restraint by relying on personal connections, Vudalı stated that this understanding has now lost its validity and that attacking journalists will not suffice to change the truth.
Stressing that aggression against a journalist threatens not only that individual but the entire public's right to access information, Vudalı noted that the issue is a concern for everyone who believes in democracy, the rule of law and freedom of expression. The HP Secretary General declared that the party will continue to stand by press freedom and the supremacy of law, and emphasised that they will not allow such behaviour to become normalised.
Vudalı concluded his statement with a call for the incidents to be addressed within a legal framework and for legal proceedings to be initiated against those responsible, saying: "No one is exempt from accountability."
