Close Menu
News JournosNews Journos
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Europe News
  • Finance
  • Turkey Reports
  • Money Watch
  • Health
Editors Picks

Trump and China Intensify Trade War Amidst Other Major Developments

April 9, 2025

Climate Activists Vandalize NYC Tesla Dealership on Earth Day

April 22, 2025

Trump Ally Named Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Amid Ongoing Legal Challenges

March 24, 2025

Bukele Tweets Message to Trump After Meeting

April 15, 2025

Study Reveals Strong U.S. Support for Climate Policies Despite EPA Rollbacks

March 14, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Latest Headlines:
  • Super Typhoon Ragasa Strikes Hong Kong and Southern China, Leaving 14 Dead in Taiwan
  • Luxury Camper Van Features Full Kitchen and Bathroom for Apartment-Style Living
  • Turning Point Tour Resumes Impactful Messaging Following Charlie Kirk’s Passing
  • Greening Cities: Will Urban Streets Determine the Fate of the Green Deal?
  • Trump Alleges UN Sabotage Involving Escalator and Teleprompter
  • Syria’s President Warns Israel’s Actions May Alienate U.S. Allies
  • MLB to Implement Robot Umpires in Challenge System Next Season
  • Kimmel Addresses Controversy in First Monologue After Show’s Hiatus
  • Seasonal Hiring Projected to Hit Lowest Level Since 2009, Analysis Shows
  • French Foreign Ministry: New Initiative Aims to Advance Peace and Revive Two-State Solution
  • Jimmy Kimmel’s Ratings Soar to Highest Levels in Years After ABC Return
  • Warren Suggests Trump’s Rolex Tennis Invite May Be a Bid for Favoritism
  • AI-Based Study Tools Boost CFA Exam Pass Rates
  • Nexstar Reviews Show Status for ABC Affiliates
  • Bondi Facilitates Transfer of Former Death Row Inmates Commuted by Biden
  • Security for Charlie Kirk Lacked Rooftop Authority, Spokesman States
  • Health Experts Dismiss Claims Linking Tylenol to Autism
  • Verified Accounts Become New Target for Scammers Seeking Credibility
  • Harris Criticizes Major Newspapers for 2024 Endorsement Omission
  • Israel Destroys Evacuated Health Center in Gaza City, Reports Palestinian Medical Charity
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
News JournosNews Journos
Subscribe
Thursday, September 25
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Europe News
  • Finance
  • Turkey Reports
  • Money Watch
  • Health
News JournosNews Journos
You are here: News Journos » Turkey Reports » Erdoğan’s Iron Fist Reaches America: Presidential Guards Attack Journalists in Washington
Erdoğan’s Iron Fist Reaches America: Presidential Guards Attack Journalists in Washington

Erdoğan’s Iron Fist Reaches America: Presidential Guards Attack Journalists in Washington

News EditorBy News EditorMarch 31, 2016 Turkey Reports 2 Mins Read

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s notorious intolerance for dissent was brazenly exported to the streets of the American capital, as his personal security detail physically and verbally assaulted journalists and protesters outside a prestigious Washington think tank. The incident provided a shocking, firsthand look at the brutal tactics used to silence critics in Turkey, now deployed on US soil.

The confrontations erupted as Erdoğan prepared to speak at the Brookings Institution. His bodyguards, exhibiting the same aggression seen on the streets of Istanbul and Ankara, moved to suppress any form of protest.

Amberin Zaman, a respected Turkish journalist with the Woodrow Wilson Center, was targeted by one of Erdoğan’s guards, who screamed that she was a “PKK whore” simply for standing in a public space. This crude and defamatory language, often used by pro-government circles to delegitimize any critic, was suddenly echoing through the heart of Washington D.C.

This Erdogan security detail called me “a pkk whore”
For standing in the driveway of @BrookingsInst pic.twitter.com/jMxwcG1ftd

— Amberin Zaman (@amberinzaman) March 31, 2016

The presidential guards’ actions quickly escalated, leading to physical altercations as they manhandled and shoved journalists and protesters. The scene became so chaotic that local police were forced to intervene, not against the protesters, but against Erdoğan’s security team.

In a stark display of the clash between democratic norms and authoritarian impulses, one US police officer was reported by Foreign Policy magazine to have admonished the Turkish guards directly: “You’re part of the problem, you guys need to control yourselves and let these people protest.”

This brazen assault in a foreign capital is not an isolated incident but a direct extension of Erdoğan’s ever-tightening grip on power at home. His government is infamous for its war on critical media, a campaign that has seen the hostile takeover and shuttering of major newspapers and the imprisonment of countless journalists.

The events in Washington send a chilling message: the Turkish government’s campaign to silence the press is no longer confined by its own borders. For critics of Erdoğan, it seems there is no safe haven, not even in the capital of the United States.

Authoritarianism Journalist Safety Press Freedom protest Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkey US-Turkey Relations Washington DC
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link Bluesky
News Editor
  • Website

As the News Editor at News Journos, I am dedicated to curating and delivering the latest and most impactful stories across business, finance, politics, technology, and global affairs. With a commitment to journalistic integrity, we provide breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert insights to keep our readers informed in an ever-changing world. News Journos is your go-to independent news source, ensuring fast, accurate, and reliable reporting on the topics that matter most.

Keep Reading

U.S. News

Trump Alleges UN Sabotage Involving Escalator and Teleprompter

5 Mins Read
U.S. News

Security for Charlie Kirk Lacked Rooftop Authority, Spokesman States

6 Mins Read
U.S. News

White House Calls for Investigation into Trump’s UN Escalator Incident

5 Mins Read
Turkey Reports

Melih Gökçek Faces New Controversy Over Latest Banner

6 Mins Read
Turkey Reports

Journalist Faces Disinformation Case After Report on Deportation Center Abuse

6 Mins Read
U.S. News

Detention Officer in North Carolina Fired for Alleged Antifa Allegiance

6 Mins Read
Journalism Under Siege
Editors Picks

U.S. Coast Guard Rescues Three Stranded Boaters from Capsized Vessel

February 23, 2025

Energy Department Projects $3B Savings for Taxpayers in First 100 Days Under Trump

April 28, 2025

Tesla Shares Fall Amid Musk-Trump Feud Before Q2 Deliveries

July 1, 2025

Florida Man Arrested for Threatening Trump in Written Messages

April 4, 2025

Study Reveals Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. Youth at Risk for Prediabetes Amid Data Concerns

July 11, 2025

Subscribe to News

Get the latest sports news from NewsSite about world, sports and politics.

Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest Vimeo WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

News

  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Europe News
  • Finance
  • Money Watch

Journos

  • Top Stories
  • Turkey Reports
  • Health
  • Tech
  • Sports
  • Entertainment

COMPANY

  • About Us
  • Get In Touch
  • Our Authors
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Accessibility

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

© 2025 The News Journos. Designed by The News Journos.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Ad Blocker Enabled!
Ad Blocker Enabled!
Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.
Go to mobile version