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A video of a night police check at Greifengasse will be circulating on Twitter on Sunday, September 13, 2020. Freelance journalist Benjamin von Wyl posted it. While filming the control, he was insulted by police, among other things, as a “complete idiot”, according to he told Telebasel. The swear word can also be heard in the video.
So go home. Goodbye. Travel, ”says the policeman to Benjamin von Wyl. When the officer turns around, he is a “complete idiot.” hear. You can’t see the face anymore, but the voice makes it look like the policeman did the insult too. The shaky footage also suggests the freelance journalist was shoved.
“I was on my way home from work when a check was being written near my house,” von Wyl describes the situation. The police detained several people on the ground. As a freelance journalist, he decided to film: “Those who were controlled shouted that the police were examining them because of the color of their skin. In my work I have already worked on situations on the issue of racial profiling and I wanted to document the scene ».
He filmed so everyone could understand what happened next, says Benjamin von Wyl. “There are always different points of view in memory.” A large number of police officers arrived and arrested some of the men they controlled.
Called “complete idiot”
Actually, it was over. Then they came to me. “Wyl told police he was a journalist. A police officer’s response was” No. “
As he continued filming, a police officer asked him to leave. When the “WoZ” freelance reporter continued filming, the policeman touched him and finally insulted him as a “complete idiot” and “idiot”, so Benjamin von Wyl. “A policeman said that things would have gone wrong in my life.”
He decided to post the video of the situation on Twitter. “In the course of my journalistic work I have never seen you be insulted if you identify yourself as a journalist.” In the situation, he would not have been able to get his press card out, Benjamin von Wyl said. He deliberately only posted the scene that was about him, he continues. “It was also important to me that no one could be identified in the video.” However, he took it off the platform again, as the images were not pixelated.
I tweeted the excerpt from the video, convinced that the cops cannot be seen in the shaky shot. I asked several attorneys about this last night. From soon 1 pixelated version of the total. The video is available, the clip is now deleted. pic.twitter.com/FLJwjRpcSt
– Benjamin von Wyl (@biofrontsau) September 13, 2020
“Not following the instructions of the police”
“In the video clip in question on Twitter you can see how a person posing as a journalist does not follow the instructions of the police,” said the spokesman for the police media, Toprak Yerguz, when asked by Telebasel. “Then the policeman warns him with clear words.”
The recording was made during an identity check, in which a person opposed the check and verbally abused the police. “The policemen were also called racists. This accusation is sometimes made by people who are being controlled or by passersby to shake up the surrounding area, ”continues Toprak Yerguz.
“For this reason, in this case reinforcements had to be requested. If the inspection cannot be carried out on site, a person can be brought to the station. That happened in this case. “If and who uttered more insults or insults cannot be seen in the Twitter clip.” To further investigate the case, we would have to send the relevant images, “Yerguz said.
Were you there Sunday night at Greifengasse? Contact Us:
Police often face cameras
Cantonal police often come across recorded cameras during their operations. “Police officers are properly trained and prepared for these types of situations. Since everyone can document an operation, the statement “I am a journalist” does not grant any special treatment during an operation, “continues the media spokesperson.” The same with duties: everyone must follow the instructions of the police, that is, keep a safe distance, including journalists. “
“Tagesanzeiger” journalist Kurt Pelda sees this differently. He strongly criticizes the actions of the police through Twitter:
A clear violation of freedom of the press. I would immediately intervene in your place. Journalists have the right to film police operations. Such behavior should have consequences for the police officers involved.
– Kurt Pelda (@KurtPelda) September 13, 2020
Regarding the accusation of racial discrimination against the controlled persons, Toprak Yerguz says: “The police of the canton of Basel-Stadt do not check anyone just because of the color of their skin. Personal checks should not be carried out without cause. The motive for control arises in the context of various factors such as person, place, time and other circumstances.
The police recently developed a brochure with the association of migrants who help migrants, showing five simple steps for hassle-free identity checks. In it, the authorities urge you to remain calm, listen, show your ID, give answers and, if you have any questions, ask them:
(Image: Basel-Stadt cantonal police)
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