Killing of 20-Year-Old Man in Ankara: Governor's Office Says It Wasn't Because of 'Kurdish Music'

Photo: MA

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Ankara Governor's Office has denied reports that the stabbing of Barış Çakan (20) in the capital was caused by him listening Kurdish music.

The incident happened after Çakan and his friend B.A. warned the suspects listening to loud music in a car during the call for prayer (adhan), it said in a written statement, citing the testimony of B.A.

Based on the statements of Çakan's family, the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) earlier reported that he was attacked by a group of three people in Etimesgut district late Sunday (May 31) because he was listening to Kurdish music.

Çakan was stabbed in the chest and lost his life on the scene of incident.

The Governor's Office did not refer to news reports but said there were "false claims" on social media about the incident, which it said were used "as an element of provocation."

Çakan's father, Nihat Çakan, later confirmed the governor's office's statement to Medyascope TV. He said that B.A. called him and told that they had approached the car and told the three people to "have respect to adhan and turn down the volume." Then they got out of the car, saying, "Are you teaching us how to be Muslims" and attacked them.

"Three people took my son away from ne because he wanted them to turn the volume down," Nihat Çakar said.

The suspects were immediately detained and a legal process was launched upon orders by the Public Prosecutor's Office, the statement also noted. (EMK/VK)