Gülenist attacks Turkish reporters in Tanzania

A prominent member of the Gülen Movement physically and verbally attacked two reporters during Qurban Bayram (Feast of Sacrifice) in Tanzania, eyewitnesses stated. The reporters were in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, to do a story on a nongovernmental organization that helps out the poor.

Working for a TV channel called TRT Avaz and a radio channel, Moral FM, the two reporters were said to be at a traditional market in Zanzibar when a prominent member from the local Gülen Movement cell accosted the reporters. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers harassed the reporters in addition to physically assaulting the pair.

The attacker, whose first name is reportedly Sıtkı, interrupted the broadcast shouting "This is the fake version of our ‘Ayna' [a travel program televised on Gülen-affiliated Samanyolu TV]." Demanding the attacker leave the scene, the reporter and crew were attacked and threatened. The alleged member of the Gülen Movement did not stop there and went on to abuse the reporters yesterday at the airport, where they were waiting for the flight at the lounge. As the incident got out of hand at the airport, the police intervened and detained both parties. Upon the Turkish embassy stepping in, the reporters and rest of the crew were released. Moral FM employee Fethi Çağıl on his official Twitter account told the story of how the supposed member of the Gülen Movement uttered abusive and offensive words toward him and his colleagues: "A member of the Gülen Movement volunteering at ‘Kimse Yok Mu?' [a charity institution] came out at us shouting ‘[President] Erdoğan's hounds' and tried to batter us."

Çağıl also claimed that he has video footage of the incident and the Gülenist swore at them. After labeling the reporters as "Erdoğan's hounds," the attacker continued to hurl insults at President Erdoğan.