Ahmet Turk assailant detained

PanARMENIAN.Net - The former leader of the now-defunct Democratic Society Party (DTP), Ahmet Turk, was punched in the face by an assailant after he read a press statement outside a courtroom in Samsun on Monday, April 12.

Turk was reading a press statement in front of the courthouse where a trial regarding an incident in the Bulanik district of Mus on Dec. 15 that left two people dead was taking place. A man approached Turk as he was getting into his car following the statement and punched the former DTP leader in the face. Turk, who was bleeding, was hospitalized after the attack. The assailant, who was detained by police, was identified as Ismail Celik. Reports said one additional person was suspected of involvement in the attack.

Sirri Sakik and Nuri Yaman, deputies from the DTP successor Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), and former DTP deputy Aysel Tugluk also attended the trial as observers along with Turk. BDP deputy Sakik accused the police of not taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of those attending the press conference.

Samsun’s Governor Hasan Basri Guzeloglu said the attack was “personally” motivated, which drew the ire of BDP leader Selahattin Demirtas who spoke with several television stations late in the afternoon, reiterating Sakik’s accusations. He said the governor’s statement was not serious, adding that they wanted to know who had planned the attack and for what purpose. He said if the attack was not taken seriously, the BDP would respond accordingly. Speaking in response to Demirtas’ allegations, Guzeloglu denied any police negligence. He said he had called Turk to express his deepest regrets after the incident, saying he hoped this incident would not be associated with Samsun. The governor said the two people detained were being interrogated and that a thorough investigation had been started. He denied any lack of security measures in the attack.

Two people died and seven were wounded in the Bulanik district of Mus in December of last year when a store owner opened fire on demonstrators protesting the closure of the pro-Kurdish DTP.

Turan Bilen, whose store was attacked and whose car was set on fire during the incidents, opened fire on the crowd, killing two demonstrators.

The DTP was closed by the Constitutional Court on charges of having links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and Turk and 38 DTP members were banned from politics for five years because of their statements supporting the PKK.