Yavuz, a critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and supporter of an opposition party, was attacked after appearing on a TV Show on Friday night. He was immediately sent to the hospital, his newspaper The Yenicag said. His life is not in danger, however.

The assault happened in a context of growing political tensions in Turkey after the ruling party AKP demanded a re-run of the mayoral elections in Istanbul, which was initially won by the opposition. The authorities ordered a revote on June 23.

Six persons allegedly involved in the attack were arrested, but they were freed a day later on the grounds that the journalist’s injuries were not life-threatening. The OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, said he was “shocked” by their release.

The IFJ/EFJ said: “No to impunity, in Turkey and everywhere else. We  condemn the latest attack against journalist Yavuz Selim Demirag.  It seems press freedom in Turkey continues to decline.”

Credit: Türkiyem TV