Governor's Office denies racist motives in attack on Kurdish workers in Antalya

Photo: MA

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The Governor's Office of Antalya has denied the reports that a recent attack on Kurdish seasonal agricultural workers in the southern province was racially motivated.

"At around 22.00 on August 1, an argument between a 30-people group of seasonal workers and a 50-people group of residents in Elmalı district Bayralar neighborhood turned into a small fight, after which the District Gendarmerie teams stepped in," it said in a statement.

The dispute was caused by drilling operations by workers and later both sides agreed to make peace with each other after the incident, said the Governor's Office.

The workers moved from Bayralar to Kocapınar neighborhood "at their own request" and the Elmalı Public Prosecutor's Office had taken the necessary action, it noted.

Sixteen workers had to leave the neighborhood under the protection of gendarmerie officers.

One of the workers, Servet Kuğra, had told Mesopotamia Agency (MA) that "They told us, 'You are Kurds, leave our land.' They attacked us on August 1. We couldn't get any of our belongings." (NÇ/DŞ/VK)