Encouraging attacks against journalists, politicians 'very dangerous,' warns HDP's Uluç

Photo: HDP

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After the recent attacks on journalists over the past three weeks, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Saruhan Oluç has said that Turkey may go into a "very dark period" if such attacks continue.

"Encouraging attacks on journalists, intellectuals and politicians is utterly wrong, risky and should be condemned in strongest terms," he told a press conference at the parliament today (January 20).

"If politicians can't speak, doing their jobs while fearing for their lives, if the journalists are scared to write when doing their jobs, Turkey will enter a much darker period," he added. "... Those who do, tolerate and incite these are the number one enemies of democracy and freedoms."

Five journalists and a politician have been assaulted since January 1. The Natonalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of the government, has been accused of inciting the three attacks that took place on January 14 and 15.

While the party has denied the allegations, its deputy head said they have "a lot of madmen" who won't wait for orders.

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Oluç also commemorated journalist Hrant Dink, who was murdered 14 years ago and said that the case of his killing became a "trial of shame" as it has not still been completed.

Quoting the speech given by his spouse Rakel Dink at a ceremony yesterday, he said, "Saying 'FETÖ killed Hrant' means, 'I didn't do it, my hand did,' saying 'Ergenekon killed Hrant' means, 'I didn't do it, my foot did.' These words are in fact the summary of the past 14 years." (DŞ/VK)