Yet another photograph in which BDP deputies share the same frame with PKK terrorists can be added to the pile. This time, the three politicians photographed with terrorist Murat Filiz who goes by the code name 'Firaz' are none other than BDP politicians Nurettin Demirtaş, Ayla Akat Ata and Nursel Aydoğan. By now, everyone is well aware of who the terrorist is; the man responsible for killing ten and wounding 70 in the August 20th bombing in Gaziantep.
Photograph after photograph is being released showing BDP deputies and PKK terrorists in amicable terms. No matter how much they may say it is 'coincidence' the fact remains that the images of Gültan Kışanak in 'Kandil', Sebahat Tuncel with Molotov-throwing terrorists and BDP deputy Yeşiltaş's embrace of PKK members who had raided an outpost in Şemdinli are still fresh in our minds. Well, now SABAH is adding a new one to the mix, a photograph taken on November 13th, 2005 at a demonstration held in Diyarbakır in reaction to the shutting down of DTP, in which BDP members standd side by side with the man responsible for the Gaziantep bombing. During the demonstrations, there were moments of escalating tension when police tried to search members of certain groups. It turns out, that amongst those arguing with the police were none other than three former DTP members, who have gone on to become current BDP members; attorney Ayla Akat Ata (current BDP Batman Deputy), TUHADFED (Associations of Help for Prisoners' Families Federation) Chair Nursel Aydoğan (current BDP Diyarbakır Deputy) and former DTP chairman Nurettin Demirtaş. The politicians are seen arguing with a police officer while 'Firaz' can be seen amongst them.
The polemic transpiring with the police is visible and to be honest everything up until now has been seen before. However, what stands out is the fact that that photo taken on November 13th, 2005 would be connected in any way to the attack staged in Gaziantep on August 20th, 2012. Standing alongside the three politicians who are now with BDP is none other than the man responsible for loading a vehicle with explosives in a suburb of Gaziantep which he then exploded, Murat Filiz, aka 'Firaz'.
AN ACTIVE MEMBER AT THE TIME
According to the recording caught on police camera seven years ago, Murat Filiz appears to be quite actively involved on the day of the demonstration. Not only does Murat Filiz not make any attempts to avoid being shot on camera, he also offers up a victory sign directed at the lens. As a result, anti-terrorism police began tracing him and not four months had passed until 'Firaz' had been arrested twice for terrorist activities and was sentences to serve time. After his third arrest and release pending trial, Murat Filiz decided to move on to Kandil.
So, the question remains as to whether the former DTP members and current BDP deputies had any inclination of Murat Filiz's activities, someone they had shared a frame with so many years ago…
When we asked a security official this question the response was:
"When one looks at the records from that time, it is obvious that Murat Filiz was quite active in Diyarbakır. I am not sure about Nurettin Demirtaş, however if Ayla Akat Ata, who was an active attorney at the time and TUHADFED Chair Nursel Aydoğan were to say they had no idea about Murat Filiz, I wouldn't find that very convincing.
'COINCIDENTAL PHOTOGRAPHS...'
The recently surfaced images of BDP and PKK members intermingling is certainly not a new development. One of perhaps the most memorable of such images was take in the 80's. BDP deputy Gültan Kışanak is seen shaking hands with PKK terrorists accompanying Abdullah Öcalan in full guerilla garb in a PKK camp, suspected to most likely be located in the Bekaa Valley.
Another photograph depicts BDP deputy Sebahat Tuncel standing side by side with PKK terrorists responsible for setting off Molotov Cocktails. When the photograph, which was taken in Istanbul, surfaced Tuncel had called it a 'coincidence.' Images of Sebahat Tuncel alongside another organization member were also caught on security footage taken at the Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The images showed Tuncel trying to ensure a female bomber was able to leave Istanbul.
EMBRACING PKK MEMBERS
One of the most disappointing photographs was taken just recently in Şemdinli in which a group of BDP members, including Deputy Gültan Kışanak are seen having gotten out of their cars to hug PKK terrorists. Gülten Kışanak commented on the photograph by stating, "They are our youth and of course we will hug them.' However, soon after, SABAH uncovered that the 'youth' she mentioned had actually participated in the outpost raid which left nine soldiers dead. When hearing Kışanak's statement, the family of one soldier killed in the ambush filed a criminal complaint against the BDP deputy.
This is a translation of an article originally written by Ertuğrul Erbaş.
