Man arrested over sexist attack on Başak Demirtaş

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One of the two men detained over sexist attack against Başak Demirtaş on social media was arrested today (June 16).

As part of an investigation launched by the Sakarya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the sexist remarks uttered on Twitter about Başak Demirtaş, the wife of imprisoned former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, two male suspects V.Y. and Vedat M. were taken into custody while the former was released yesterday (June 15).

As it is understood that the social media account that posted the messages and seemed to belong to V.Y. was used by Vedat M., the Penal Judgeship of Peace on Duty has ruled that Vedat M. shall be arrested.

Main opposition chair has slammed the attack

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the Chair of Republican People's Party (CHP), also condemned that attack in his group meeting at the Parliament today.

"Başak Demirtaş was insulted on social media. Are you humans?," main opposition CHP Chair protested. Referring to the "green ball emoji" on the account that posted the tweet, he said, "Maybe, you should have decorated yourselves with a medal, and a green one indeed."

The now-suspended account that posted the sexist tweet about Başak Demirtaş had this emoji used by the supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Whether the suspects had any relations with the party or not has not been clarified by authorities.

Continuing his remarks, Kılıçdaroğlu said:

"I am calling out to all women: If there is no peace at your home, the reason is this 'high society' at the palace. There is a notion called meritocracy in state government. It means giving the job to the competent one. A state is governed with justice and meritocracy. You are supposed to govern the state with justice and give the job to the competent one.

"No one just becomes an expert of something, education is needed. One needs to graduate from the medical school to be able to enter an operating room. The man who supports a thief is a thief himself."

What happened?

A sexist tweet was posted about Başak Demirtaş from the Twitter account "vedatmuti7". On June 14, Sakarya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that V.Y. was taken into custody after the tweet was posted from this account. Later in the day, his step-uncle V.M. was also detained.

The now-suspended account had a "green ball" emoji, which is used by the supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Whether he has a relation to the party has not been clarified by authorities.

Tweets against Başak Demirtaş caused an outrage on social media, including opposition politicians such as Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu and CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's wife Selvi Kılıçdaroğlu, announcing support for her.

Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül also denounced the incident. Presidency's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also said, "It is obvious to our nation that who these immoral people are and what they serve for by making those leaning to the terrorist organization aggrieved."

In a tweet, Başak Demirtaş thanked everyone for "solidarity." (EMK/SD)