Journalist investigated for describing ruling alliance as 'racist, reactionary'

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Prosecutors in Van, eastern Turkey, have opened an investigation against journalist Ruşen Takva due to his comments about the election alliance led by the country's ruling party.

In a tweet on March 11, Takva criticized the Free Cause Party's (HÜDA PAR) support for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying, "With the HÜDA PAR, known for its closeness to Hizbullah, joining the AKP alliance, the electoral front has become more clear.

"Thus, racist, right-wing and reactionary groups, which left their internal conflicts aside, have decided to run in the elections under a single front."

Hizbullah, also known as the Kurdish Hezbollah, is an Islamist armed group that perpetrated hundreds of targeted killings in the 1990s. While critics deem the HÜDA PAR the "political wing" of the group, the party denies any connections with Hizbullah.

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Charged with "provoking the public into hatred and hostility," Takva gave a statement to the police on Wednesday, he said on Twitter.

"Let alone prosecutors positioning themselves against comments about political parties ... the alliance in question defines itself this way by making 'right-wing, racist and religious' propaganda to its voters," he wrote.

The People's Alliance comprises the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Great Unity Party (BBP), a splinter movement from the MHP, and the New Welfare (Yeniden Refah) Party, which shares the same Islamic roots with the AKP, and the HÜDA PAR.

More than 10 investigations were previously opened against Takva because of his reports and social media posts. Cases were filed against him after four investigations while three of the investigations are still underway. Prosecutors dismissed the other investigations.

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(HA/VK)