Three injured in assault targeting ‘yes' campaigners
Four people assaulted a group of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) supporters in the southern city of Antalya, injuring three "yes" vote campaigners who were handing out leaflets for the upcoming constitutional change referendum. The incident is just the latest episode of violence targeting the AK Party ahead of the campaign and the second in Antalya, a Mediterranean resort.
The victims said they were distributing leaflets when four assailants, including a family of three, approached them. "They were apparently braced for an attack. They asked us angrily why they should vote ‘yes.' I kindly told them to take a leaflet. Then, the youngest one among the assailants punched a man in our group. I tried to stop him but the others punched and kicked me. My fingers and my glasses were broken. It was then that a brawl broke out," Gürsel Sayar, one of the victims, said. One of the assailants was slightly injured in the brawl. Sayar and the others filed criminal complaints against the assailants, who were detained by the police.
Durmuş Doğan, another victim, said the assailants shoved three female campaigners and punched him. Doğan suffered a bruised lip. Mehmet Rıfat Durukan, head of the local AK Party branch, said the attack was meant to "provoke" them. "This referendum is not about politics. It is about our country's future. Unfortunately, we witnessed a disturbing incident," he said. Other AK Party officials condemned the incident.
Last month, a young woman campaigning for "yes" votes in another district of Antalya was attacked by two women who tore off her headscarf. Similar attacks against AK Party supporters, who have set up stands to distribute leaflets, have been reported in eastern and southeastern cities.
The AK Party, in power since 2002, has been advocating for a set of changes to the Constitution to streamline bureaucracy, while the opposition claims the referendum will pave the way for an autocratic regime.
AK Party's members have been victims of attacks during past election and referendum periods when party offices in several cities were attacked by suspects linked to terrorist groups.
The victims said they were distributing leaflets when four assailants, including a family of three, approached them. "They were apparently braced for an attack. They asked us angrily why they should vote ‘yes.' I kindly told them to take a leaflet. Then, the youngest one among the assailants punched a man in our group. I tried to stop him but the others punched and kicked me. My fingers and my glasses were broken. It was then that a brawl broke out," Gürsel Sayar, one of the victims, said. One of the assailants was slightly injured in the brawl. Sayar and the others filed criminal complaints against the assailants, who were detained by the police.
Durmuş Doğan, another victim, said the assailants shoved three female campaigners and punched him. Doğan suffered a bruised lip. Mehmet Rıfat Durukan, head of the local AK Party branch, said the attack was meant to "provoke" them. "This referendum is not about politics. It is about our country's future. Unfortunately, we witnessed a disturbing incident," he said. Other AK Party officials condemned the incident.
Last month, a young woman campaigning for "yes" votes in another district of Antalya was attacked by two women who tore off her headscarf. Similar attacks against AK Party supporters, who have set up stands to distribute leaflets, have been reported in eastern and southeastern cities.
The AK Party, in power since 2002, has been advocating for a set of changes to the Constitution to streamline bureaucracy, while the opposition claims the referendum will pave the way for an autocratic regime.
AK Party's members have been victims of attacks during past election and referendum periods when party offices in several cities were attacked by suspects linked to terrorist groups.
Last Update: April 13, 2017 21:29