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Armed attack on CHP member by brother of former MHP mayor

CHP member Şerafettin Bahadır was subjected to an armed attack in the Pınarbaşı district of Kayseri in the evening hours. Bahadır was taken to intensive care in serious condition. While CHP leader Özgür Özel reacted to the attack, MHP figures also responded to Özel.

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In the 31 March elections, Şerafettin Bahadır, a municipal council member candidate from the CHP in Kayseri's Pınarbaşı district, the hometown of Alparslan Türkeş, was first beaten and then subjected to an armed attack.

According to the report by İsmail Saymaz from Sözcü, it is alleged that the individuals who carried out the armed attack on Bahadır in the evening while he was with his daughter were Ejder Uzunluoğlu, the brother of Pınarbaşı's former MHP mayor Menduh Uzunluoğlu, and those accompanying him.

The folk dance called "Topal" (Limp) that Şerafettin Bahadır performed after the election had been interpreted as a jab at Menduh Uzunluoğlu.

İsmail Saymaz shared the latest images from the hospital:

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

In the counts conducted after the voting process ended in the 31 March 2024 Local Administration General Elections in Kayseri's Pınarbaşı district, CHP candidate Deniz Yağan had finished the election in the lead with 5 thousand 82 votes. MHP's candidate, the incumbent Mayor Menduh Uzunluoğlu, had taken 2nd place with 4 thousand 758 votes. Upon this, MHP officials applied to the District Election Board for the cancellation of the election, alleging that there were unsealed ballots. Evaluating the application, the District Election Board decided to renew the elections with 6 'yes' votes and 1 'no' vote. The elections were repeated on 2 June.

MHP'S ERSOY: TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY

Making a written statement after the cancellation of the elections, MHP Kayseri MP Baki Ersoy included the following expressions: "As a result of our objections, the District Election Board has decided to cancel the Pınarbaşı Mayoral and Municipal Council elections and hold them again with 6 affirmative votes and 1 dissenting vote. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, you have fallen into a void again with wrong directions. As someone who has served as chairman, I will not respond to you with your own tone. But know this, all of Turkey knows both me and you better now. Today is my birthday, may it be blessed."

ERSOY'S INSULTS TO THE DISTRICT ELECTION JUDGE

On the other hand, footage regarding CHP Kayseri Provincial Chair Feyzullah Keskin and MHP Kayseri MP Baki Ersoy also leaked onto the internet. In the video shared by many people on social media, there were moments where Ersoy reacted to the district election judge and uttered heavy insults.

"SOMETIMES THE WAY TO WIN IS THROUGH SACRIFICE"

The attack on CHP council member Şerafettin Bahadır in Kayseri Pınarbaşı brought to mind the post made by MHP Kayseri MP Baki Ersoy just before the attack. Ersoy, who caused controversy with his profanity-laden words to Pınarbaşı ballot box committee members on the night of the cancelled election, had shared this message: “For those who value their name above their wealth, their religion above their life, and their afterlife above their world, battle is a wedding. Sometimes the way to win is through sacrifice.”

It was noted that the attack on CHP members took place shortly after Ersoy's post. The former mayor who lost in the Pınarbaşı district was a figure close to Ersoy.

According to information provided by journalist Recep Bulut:

When the CHP won Pınarbaşı, municipal council member Şerafettin Bahadır danced the 'Topal' (Limp) folk dance.

His brother and relatives, claiming that MHP's Memduh Uzunluoğlu was being alluded to in this way, beat and shot Bahadır while his daughter was by his side.

'THE ONLY THING SEEN IS YOUR HELPLESSNESS'

CHP leader Özgür Özel said the following in his post on X regarding the attack:

"The mentality that could not digest the election result of March 31 in Kayseri Pınarbaşı, threatened judges, and caused the election to be repeated unfairly by using curses and insults, received the same answer from the people once again in the renewed election. However, instead of digesting this answer and receiving the message of the people, this time they attacked an innocent, blameless person with clubs and fired bullets while he was defenseless next to his daughter. Let them know this; what they have done is neither bravery nor manliness. It is pure helplessness. We will stand firm against this attack and maintain our calm. We will do our best to ensure that tension does not escalate and that other children do not get hurt. We have started taking the necessary steps as of tonight. I warn you once again; what you have done shows neither your power nor your strength… The only thing seen is your helplessness and desperation."

Responses to Özel's statements came quickly from MHP members.

Baki Ersoy, whose name was frequently mentioned in the repetition of the Pınarbaşı elections, targeted CHP leader Özel in a post he made on social media.

'I AM ACTUALLY WARNING YOU'

In his statement where he said, “HELPLESSNESS is to slander, and the greatest HELPLESSNESS is to be unable to prove it and remain constantly in the gutter,” Ersoy noted the following:

“Mr. Özgür, the renewed elections were a legal process and they were repeated, they were concluded. However, why did you not make any reference to the mentality that displayed the exact definition of the word HELPLESS by dancing in the company of your party members who applauded by mocking all our disabled citizens due to the disability of our Pınarbaşı Mayor, which in my opinion is a disability in their brains? On the night the son of the CHP Kayseri Provincial Chair committed suicide earlier (May his soul rest in peace, I offered my condolences, I am writing this for the HELPLESS AND DISABLED mentalities who blame me because I will not enter into family matters), you did not say to the vile wretches who again targeted me and were able to say 'Research it well, Baki Ersoy might have had it done' on the night of the incident, 'The causes and consequences of the issue are clear, who are you blaming and why?'? Why could you not say to the HELPLESS and DISABLED mentalities who targeted me again in the hospital corridors last night, 'It is based on heavy provocation by the person who displayed behavior we do not approve of, mocking the disability of his brother on the night of March 31, his brother probably doesn't even know about it, and what does this have to do with incitement?'?

Mr. Özgür, I advise you to act on more accurate information and documents because you are the Chairman of the Republican People's Party, which is a deep-rooted party. I am actually warning you, please see the truths through the contents, causes, and consequences of the issues instead of making statements based on the claims of wretches who constantly fall into voids.

Otherwise, you will have to constantly fall into these voids, which unfortunately you are doing. HELPLESSNESS is to slander, and the greatest HELPLESSNESS is to be unable to prove it and remain constantly in the gutter.”

YÖNTER TO ÖZEL: 'CAPTIVE ÖZGÜR'

A reaction to CHP leader Özel also came from MHP Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP İzzet Ulvi Yönter.

Quoting MHP Kayseri MP Baki Ersoy's tweet, Yönter said, “Özgür, you have practically made lying and slander a profession, pity you… But you will be embarrassed again, you will be caught off guard again… Captive Özgür, come on, try another door…”