'Bahçeli has now claimed the HDP attack'

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Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli blamed the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for the armed assault last week that killed party employee Deniz Poyraz.

He called Poyraz a "militia accomplice" in his party's parliamentary group meeting yesterday (June 22).

It surfaced after the attack that the assailant had Instagram photos displaying the "grey wolf" sign, a symbol used by MHP supporters.

Lawyers, rights advocates and politicians spoke to bianet about Bahçeli's statements.

HDP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair and lawyer Meral Danış-Beştaş, HDP deputy Garo Paylan, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu and Human Rights Association (İHD) Chair Eren Keskin are of the opinion that Bahçeli's remarks were encouraging violence.

Criminal complaint

Kesin said they would file a criminal complaint against Bahçeli.

"With his statements today, Bahçeli clearly showed that he claimed the attack. This is clearly a hate crime. He targeted a deceased person and beyond that, he approved the attack," she said. "This is clearly inciting people to hatred and animosity. As the Human Rights Association, we'll file a criminal complaint as per Turkish Penal Code article 216."

"If there is a courageous prosecutor..."

HDP's Paylan said Bahçeli's remarks were "hate speech directly targeting our party."

"Such a statement after such a massacre will pave the way for new hate killings," he said. "Even if the small partner of the coalition is being irresponsible, the big partner should prevent this. Otherwise, there will be new hate crimes, new political crimes."

About the legal deficiencies in Turkey in terms of hate crimes, Paylan said, "In fact, even the current laws regard this statement as a crime."

"Bahçeli directly incited the public to hatred and animosity and current laws are against this. If there is a courageous prosecutor left, they should immediately open an investigation into this issue. Political discourse that produces hate crimes shouldn't be tolerated."

"It will pave the way for other killings"

CHP's Tanrıkulu said, "Trying to legitimize this murder over the identity of Deniz Poyraz after such a massacre attempt is very dangerous and it will pave the way for other killings and massacres."

"The small partner backs the murder"

HDP's Danış-Beştaş said, "The small partner's statement today was targeting a woman friend of ours who was killed and an attempt to legitimize the murder. He implicitly said, 'Why didn't more HDP members die?'

"This is horrible, very grave in terms of politics. Using the same language, having the same stance as those who committed the murder and targeting someone after their death is not a politically defendable point.

"At the same time, this is a crime. It also means justifying, legitimizing and backing the murder. If an impartial and independent judiciary still exists, it should investigate this."