Garo Paylan: I Have Been Exposed to Planned Attack for Being Armenian

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After the fight that broke out between the members of Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) occurred again last night in the Parliamentary Constitution Conciliation Committee, one of the most disputed figures has been HDP İstanbul MP Garo Paylan.

We’ve talked to Paylan whom was blamed by AKP İstanbul MP Mehmet Metiner on TV for provocation.

Paylan speaking to bianet said he was tried to be lynched by 10-15 people, however this attack was planned and arose from him being Armenian.

Paylan’s statements as to incidents yesterday is as follows:

“I just said ‘No it’not like that’ and the attack began”

“The Minister of Justice said ‘In the previous commission meeting, HDP MPs and advisors inflicted violence’. Then I said ‘No they didn’t’. That was the only sentence that came out of my mouth. Then the attack began.

“I shared it on social media as well. Anyone willing to see can check the commission minutes. They blame me for provocation but I didn’t do that, I just said ‘No it’s not like that’”.

“I got kicked and punched for around 100 times”

“It is crystal clear that they are targeting me. Lots of MPs attacked on me in a planned way. I was directly targeted and got kicked and punched around 100 times in 20-30 seconds.

“Afterwards, they spoke racist words and hate speech against me.

“I will not get a report. What can happen if I take this to their jurisdiction? I am leaving the evaluation to conscience of public”.

“Because I am Armenian…”

“At this point, we can talk about the fact that I am Armenian because the speeches in there are hatred speech directly related to my Armenian identity.

“What they can’t digest is this: A person of Armenian identity reveals their lies and stands upright.

“They want to see Armenian obeying them. I as an Armenia putting up a fight for rights have been targeted and subjected to lynching attempt”.

“Garo is here, Garo is here…”

“AKP members’ directly targeting me shows that this is a planned operation.

“They planned that ‘We will take down these people at the first opportunity, we will teach them their lessons’.

“Because them directly turning towards me and calling other MPs as ‘Garo is here, Garo is here’ explains everything”. (EKN/TK)