Attack Against CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu at the Funeral of a Soldier
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Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the Chair of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was attacked by a group of people in Çubuk, Ankara yesterday (April 21) after he attended the funeral of Yener Kırıkçı, a soldier who lost his life during the military operations in Turkey-Iraq border in Hakkari.*
Attending the funeral with Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş in Akkuzulu Neighborhood in Çubuk, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was attacked by the ones who attended the funeral.
The group first booed the CHP Chair, chanting the slogan, "PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party] out." After the funeral, they attacked him.
The ones accompanying him tried to protect Kılıçdaroğlu, who was then taken to a safe house in Akkuzulu Neighborhood.
He left Akkuzulu in an armored vehicle
At around 3.20 p.m., Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu left the house in an armored vehicle. For one and a half hours, when CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu was in the house, the attacks of the group continued.
Minister Akar: 'You gave your message, now disperse'
Gathering outside the house where the CHP Chair took refuge, the group also reacted to the statements made by Director General of Security Celal Uzunkaya and Çubuk District Governor Uğur Sezer, who tried to persuade the group to disperse and let Kılıçdaroğlu leave the house.
Having also attended the funeral, Hulusi Akar, the Minister of National Defense, addressed the attacker in following words:"My esteemed friends, you gave your message, you have shown your reaction, now disperse."
Governorship: Investigation launched into incident
Making a statement regarding the lynch attempt directed to Kılıçdaroğlu, the Governorship of Ankara has announced that a legal action has been taken against the ones who were responsible for the attack.
Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Yücel Kocaman has also stated that an investigation has been launched into the incident.
CHP Chair: It was an attack against Turkey
Going to the Central Office of his party in Ankara, CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made a statement regarding the incident in front of the CHP building. In his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu made the following remarks:
"What they want is that I do not attend the funerals of martyrs, but I will. These martyrs belong to 82 million. They respect neither the funeral, nor the call to prayer. What do you want from the prayer, from the martyrs?
"No attack can intimidate us. We will bring spring to this country. I promise that spring will prevail in each and every part of this country.
"I do not feel sorry that I am attacked. What makes me feel sorry is the attack directed against the disrespect shown to the martyr.
"Even the funeral prayer could not be properly performed. The mother and father are grieved. The ones living in this village are not to blame. It is a plot staged by the ones coming from outside.
"They set up scaffolds for me. It is my promise to my 82 million people: I have a single life and I can sacrifice this life if it is necessary for the survival of this country and the happiness of children."
Minister of Interior Soylu previously targeted CHP
The ones who gathered in front of CHP Central Office to listen Kılıçdaroğlu chanted the slogans, "Soylu, resign," referring to Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu. Making a statement on June 28, 2018, Süleyman Soylu targeted the CHP in following words:
"I sent instructions to the governors via my undersecretary. I told them 'Don't allow CHP Provincial Chairs into protocols of martyr funerals.' It is that simple. They have only one place, one address to go. We will show them this address. The members of the PKK also have funerals. We very rarely let them hold funerals. We will allocate them a one-person quota. If they are together at the ballot box, they will also be together at the funeral." (HK/SD)
* On April 20, 2019, four soldiers lost their lives in a conflict that erupted during the military operations launched by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey's eastern province of Hakkari. The TAF announced that six other soldiers were also wounded in the conflict, adding that they were in good health.