House of Alevi Family Marked, Governor Says Incident 'Not Sectarian'

Photos: PİRHA

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Unknown perpetrators wrote "Go away Alevi" with a cross mark on the wall of an Alevi family's house in Gaziemir district in the western İzmir province.

The incident happened on Tuesday (November 26) and Bayram Şenal, the owner of the house, filed a complaint at the police department the next day.

The police told the family that it was probably done by "drunkards or children," Şenal told the Pir News Agency (PİRHA). He said they don't believe that and "will pursue the incident."

Governor of İzmir Erol Ayyıldız said that the incident "was not caused by sectarian reasons but occurred after a fight," citing the Security Directorate. Administrative and judicial investigations continue, he added.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also spoke about the incident, saying, "I regard the marking on that house as it was on my own house."

"Our colleagues will find that person. This person will be found and pay for [what he/she did]. Very few of such incidents occurred during the period of my ministry, but none remained unsolved. Nobody has the right to disrupt the peace of the nation," Soylu said.

The incident drew reactions on social media, with many people tweeting under the hashtag, "Aleviyim" (I'm an Alevi). (RT/VK)