Politicians Condemn the Attack against Journalist Ahmet Hakan

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Vice President and Spokesperson Ömer Çelik condemned the attack against journalist Ahmet Hakan.

Journalist Hakan had been attacked by four perpetrators last night in front of his house.

“The government should make a stride about the attacks against the media”

CHP Leader Kılıçdaroğlu stated:

"I am deeply sorry. A dear journalist was threatened with death before and then was physically assaulted.  The tension of the society worries us. We hope the government makes a stride about the attacks against the media.”

“The Presidential Palace and the government should give up targeting the media”

HDP Co-Chairs Yüksekdağ and Demirtaş made a written statement:

“Attack against Ahmet Hakan is a part of the oppression against the media and media laborers in Turkey. This assault isn’t unexpected since the President Erdoğan quarrels with the media, accuses them, ruling party’s deputy (Abdurrahim Boynukalın) raids Hürriyet daily’s building, criticizing journalists are dismissed, and columnists are put on trial.

 “It is worrying that perpetrators are organized. Who are the instigators? 

 “This criminal assault is an intimidation for all the media.

 “The Presidential Palace and the government should give up targeting the media, punish the perpetrators and instigators by putting them on trial from now on.”

“We condemn the violence against journalists”

AKP Spokesperson Çelik tweeted:

“We condemn the atrocious attack against journalist Ahmet Hakan and wish him a speedy recovery. The attacks against the journalists can’t be excused in any way. The violence is unaccepted and it should be rejected unconditionally.

“We wish the best for all press members and strongly condemn the violence against them.” (HK/ÇT/BD)

Click here to read the article in Turkish