‘We will not stay silent in the face of threats against the opposition’
* Photo: Metin Aktaş - Ankara / AA
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20 civil society organizations have released a joint statement titled "We will not Stay Silent in the Face of Threats Against the Opposition."
The NGOs have denounced President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for showing the video of the attempted lynch against main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu at the AKP group meeting.
Kılıçdaroğlu was faced with a lynch attempt at the funeral of a soldier in the capital city of Ankara on April 21, 2019. In his weekly AKP Parliamentary group meeting on October 24, Erdoğan showed a video of this incident.
'Video after the CHP said "No" at the vote'
The statement of the organizations has stressed that "the targeting remarks and actual attacks of the government against the opposition politicians, intellectuals and press members have taken on a new dimension" with Erdoğan's screening of the lynch attempt to the AKP MPs.
In the video, it was said that "Kılıçdaroğlu would answer to the nation," the statement has recalled, noting that "this attitude has once again manifested that the government openly encourages attacks on the opposition."
The organizations have reminded the public that the related video was shown shortly after the CHP voted against the motion extending the deployment of Turkey's troops in Iraq and Syria for two years.
Referring to Erdoğan's remarks of "These are your good days" following an attack on opposition İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener, the organizations have said that "this threat is still serious," as is recently seen.
"Unfortunately, it is understood that these threats, which jeopardize our political and social peace in every sense, may be directed to all people and institutions who object to the actions of the government in the future, just as it was the case in the past," they have added further.
"For this reason, regardless of their political views, we call on all public-minded MPs, politicians, civil society and people to not stay silent and to extend the political and social solidarity," they have concluded.
The undersigned: 78's Initiative, Adam-Der, Alevi Bektashi Federation (ABF), Anıtpark Forum, Ankara Freedom of Thought Initiative, Anti-Capitalist Muslims, Union for Democracy (DİB), Dialogue Group, East-Southeast Associations (DGD) Platform, Initiative for Freedom of Expression, Hacı Bektaş Veli Anatolian Culture Foundation, Platform for Rights and Justice, Karşı Sanat Çalışmaları, Justice for Victims Platform, Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Associations Central Office, Silivri Democracy Platform, Civil Politics Platform, Turkey-Germany Cultural Forum, Earth Journal, Citizen's Initiative.
What happened?
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu attended the funeral of deceased soldier Yener Kırıkçı in Ankara's Çubuk on April 21, 2019. Kılıçdaroğlu was attacked by a group who attended the funeral following the ceremony.
Osman Sarıgün punched him in the face; facing a lynch attempt, Kılıçdaroğlu was taken to a house nearby.
In the indictment lodged after the incident, the defendants were charged with "wilful injury of a person due to her/his public duty", "attempted wilful injury of a person due to her/his public duty", "deprivation of liberty", "resisting to prevent the fulfilment of duty", "provoking to commit crimes", "openly insulting" and "damaging the property of political parties".
Osman Sarıgün, who punched Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, faced 1 year, 8 months to 3 years, 10 months in prison for "wilful injury of a public official" and "openly insulting a public official" and other defendants faced 1 year, 15 months to 28 years, 10 months in prison each.
The trial is ongoing. (AS/SD)
