Two journalists and a politician attacked in front of their homes within 24 hours

Future Party's Özdağ was seriously injured during the attack. (Photo: AA)

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Two journalists critical of the government and an opposition politician were attacked in front of their homes in the capital city of Ankara over the past two days.

Three suspects have been detained so far and another is sought by the police, according to the Ankara Security Directorate.

Opposition parties have denounced the attacks and criticized the ruling party for its silence as no senior government officials immediately reacted to the incidents.

Hours later, Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül said in a written statement that the assailants will be "held accountable before justice."

The Presidency's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also said on Twitter late yesterday that he "cursed the attacks."

The first attack targeted Afşin Hatipoğlu, a lawyer, a TV host for KRT TV and a former head of the Grey Wolves, a nationalist group. He said on Twitter that he was attacked by masked assailants on Thursday night (January 14).

"Thankfully, my health is good, I'm resting at home. I made the necessary complaints, I'm following the legal process," he said on Twitter. "I wonder who are the assailants who made me remember that I live in Turkey."

At around noon yesterday, several perpetrators attacked Selçuk Özdağ, the vice-chair of the Future Party, which former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu founded in 2019 after he left the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The attack by a group of about five people with sticks and weapons left the politician severely wounded in his head and hand, said a spokesperson for the party.

Davutoğlu immediately condemned the attack as an "act of political terror" and said the president would be held accountable if he stayed silent.

"A dictatorial regime"

Making another statement late yesterday, he recalled his earlier remarks and noted that the president had been still silent.

"While Mr. President makes statements immediately after ordinary incidents and accuses those who don't think like him of terrorism, an incident of political terrorism occurred in the middle of Ankara today," said Davutoğlu.

He said prosecutors should investigate the incident as an act of terrorism and added, "Because this not just another attack but an attack in line with the goal of those who are trying to change the regime in Turkey and establish a dictatorial regime."

The third attack was against Orhan Uğurluoğlu, Yeniçağ newspaper's representative in Ankara. He was also attacked in front of his home and was beaten by three people with sticks, Yeniçağ reported.

In his last column article, Uğurluoğlu criticized the government over high living costs. He said some grocery stores were putting security tags on baby food packages, which should be a "picture of shame" for the AKP as it showed that these products were being stolen.

Reactions from the opposition

While all major opposition parties condemned the attacks, most senior government officials and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of the AKP, have remained silent so far.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the head of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said the attacks were understood to be "systematic" and added: "It shouldn't be forgotten that those who remain silent against attacks targeting the democracy and freedom of thought become partners in the attacks."

Good (İYİ) Party Chair Meral Akşener, an ally of the CHP, called on Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu to immediately take action against the assailants.

"Generally, these types of assailants get away with what they do in Turkey. My home was stormed, all of the assailants were acquitted," she said.

Tuncer Bakırhan, a deputy co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) responsible for relations with NGOs and political parties, said his party condemns the attacks and considers them as "attacks on the opposition, democratic politics and alternatives to the ruling party."

"It's not a coincidence that the attacks in question were carried out at just the time when approaches targeting politics and politicians became routine and those who are responsible are acquitted," he remarked.

Temel Karamollaoğlu, the chair of the Felicity Party, which shares the same Islamic roots with the AKP, and Ali Babacan, the leader of the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party, another splinter movement from the AKP, condemned the attack on Twitter. (EKN/HA/VK)