Attack on Journalist and AKP Member Polat in South-East Turkey

The concessionaire of the local GAP Gündemi newspaper, Veysel Polat, was attacked in Şanlıurfa, a province in south-east Turkey on the border to Syria, in the evening of 14 June. Polat is also the President of the Şanlıurfa Journalists Association.

He had just left office and was on his way to the car park in the basement of the Ahmet Bahçivan office building when he was attacked at the entrance to the car park.

Journalist Polat is the deputy provincial chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the same time. He suffered injuries in his face in the attack. His brother, Ahmet Polat, who was close to the scene of the assault, took the journalist to the Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital. The reason for the attack is not clear yet.

Polat: I do not know the attackers

In hospital, Polat explained what happened: "I left the office at 7.00 pm. Four or five people I did not know were waiting at the staircase to the basement garage of the Ahmet Bahçivan Office Building. They suddenly attacked me when I was passing by. The incident was very short. The attackers ran away after the assault".

The police are investigating the records of local security cameras. The investigation into the figures shown in the footage is still continuing.

Journalists Association condemns attack

The president of the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC), Orhan Erinç, condemned the attack on Polat, who is also the association's representative for Şanlıurfa.

"We condemn this attack against our colleague which was carried out with brute force. We wish him a speedy recovery. We are grateful to the Urfa Governor Mr Nuri Okturan, to his colleagues and to the non-governmental organizations who all paid attention to the incident.

AKP Provincial Chair, lawyer Ahmet Düşunür, stated, "We are very sad about this attack against our organization. We condemn the perpetrators. We want to emphasize that nobody will reach anything by using high-handed, brute force". (EÖ/VK)