Workers’ Party MP Barış Atay attacked

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Barış Atay, an MP from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), was attacked by a group of five people in Kadıköy, İstanbul today (August 31).

While Atay and his friends were leaving a restaurant in Kadıköy at around 1.30 a.m., the group attacked him, calling the MP a "traitor."

As reported by Gözde Yel from T24, after Atay fell as a result of the attack, the group started kicking him. Taken to the Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital, the MP was treated for a suspected broken rib and trauma.

Staying in the hospital until early morning hours today, Atay has made a statement after he left the hospital. "I am good now, there is nothing serious," he has said and added, "We will hold a press statement on Tuesday."

The MP has also indicated that he will file a criminal complaint against the assaulters, who reportedly fled the scene of the incident. As of 9.17 a.m. today, there was no one in detention in relation with the attack.

MP Ahmet Şık went to the hospital

İstanbul Independent MP Ahmet Şık went to the Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital to obtain information about Barış Atay's health condition.

Şık said, "We don't think that it is something coincidental, it is an incident that happened after [Interior Minister Süleyman] Soylu said, 'Watch out, don't get caught.' After he left the place, he was attacked the moment he entered a side street. We think that he was being followed."

Statement by the TİP

After Atay was attacked, the TİP has released a statement and said, "Targeted by Süleyman Soylu during the day, our Vice Chair Barış Atay was subjected to the attack of an 'unidentified' group. The health condition of our comrade Barış is good. We thank you for the wishes of solidarity."

What did Minister Soylu say?

After Specialist Sergeant Musa O. was released from prison despite facing charges for "sexually assaulting" 18-year-old İpek E. and driving her to suicide in Batman province, TİP Hatay MP Barış Atay shared a social media post about the alleged phone messages of Musa O.

Tagging Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Atay said, "You protected and backed a serial rapist. We will make efforts to ensure that it will be held against you for the rest of your life and you will not ever forget it."

CLICK - Attorney: Court released military officer charged with rape because 'intercourse was consensual'

In response to this message, Minister Soylu tweeted:

"The left-over of the PKK and DHKP-C [Kurdistan Workers' Party and Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front], who became an MP from the HDP [Peoples' Democratic Party] upon the instruction of the PKK heads. I cannot be a 'rapist protector,' but you would make quite a rapist... The protector of Tuma [Çelik]; watch out, don't get caught..."

CLICK - HDP expels MP Tuma Çelik over sexual assault allegations

About Barış Atay

Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Hatay MP, actor.

He was born in Wilhelmshaven in Germany in 1981. He went to primary, secondary and high school in Antakya, Hatay. He graduated from the İstanbul Yeditepe University Department of Theater in 2009.

He acted in several theater plays, TV series and movies. He is also a founding member of the Actors' Union of Turkey.

In the last Parliamentary elections in 2018, Atay was elected as the Hatay MP from the HDP. He resigned from the party and transferred to the TİP on October 11, 2018. (TP/SD)