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Turkish journalist attacked after criticizing nationalist figure

Turkish journalist Levent Gultekin was attacked by two dozen assailants outside his workplace Monday evening in the latest act of violence against critics of Turkey’s nationalist party.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 30: A man walks from the studio during a  live broadcast of a news show at Belqees TV of Yemen on October 30, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Started by Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, Belqees TV opened in Istanbul in 2014 after their studio in Sana was seized by members of the Houthis. The station employs some one hundred and thirty five people from various nationalities many whom have been forced to flee their countries due to war or the political situation. The sta

ISTANBUL — Levent Gultekin, a columnist and host for Turkey’s Halk TV channel, was assaulted outside his workplace in Istanbul Monday evening by about 25 assailants. Surveillance camera footage shared by Halk TV shows Gultekin approaching the channel’s office, where he is surrounded by a group of men who attack him and kick him repeatedly after he falls to the ground.

Gultekin shared news of the incident shortly afterward on Twitter, saying he was “fine” before disclosing he suffered several broken fingers while protecting his head and face with his hands. The journalist shared details of the assault Monday on his nightly program, in which he called the assailants “a group of cowards.”

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