An Anadolu photojournalist faced police violence Friday while covering pro-Palestinian protests in Brooklyn, New York, as shown by video of the incidents.
Fatih Aktaş experienced police brutality as he was trying to capture images of the New York Police Department's violent response to the protesters.
Footage taken by another journalist shows Aktaş being forcefully shoved by a police officer while attempting to photograph the protests, causing him to fall hard to the ground.
"While I was trying to capture the police intervention in the protests, a police officer strongly pushed me backward," Aktaş said. "To avoid damaging my camera, I had to fall on my back, hitting my elbow hard on the ground."
Aktaş said that with the help of another police officer and his colleagues, he got back on his feet and continued his work, not noticing his injuries due to the heat of the moment. After the protests he saw bruising on his elbow and felt pain.
"I could have hit my head on the ground at that moment, which could have had more severe consequences. I also experienced the violent police intervention against the peaceful protesters," he said.
Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun condemned the attack, saying: "Press freedom is the backbone of democracy."
"We will continue to stand by all truthful journalists who fight against injustice and unfairness."
Ömer Çelik, spokesman for Türkiye's Justice and Development (AK) Party, echoed these sentiments.
"We once again express our pride in Anadolu Agency for conveying international sensitivity towards the oppressed Palestinian people," he said.
On Friday, police violently intervened in protests held in support of Palestine in front of New York's Brooklyn Museum.
The protesters occupied parts of the museum to protest Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, particularly the recent Israeli attack on Rafah. New York Police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian supporters, and journalists captured moments of a police officer throwing a female protester to the ground and punching her.
More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a deadly Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip since last Oct. 7 following a Hamas attack. Most of those killed have been women and children, with over 82,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.
Vast tracts of Gaza lay in ruins amid Israel's crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), whose latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war.
