Armed attack on former MHP Disciplinary Board member who commissioned a Sinan Ateş fountain: MHP official in custody

Caner Taşpınar/ 12punto.com.tr

Asri Karaarslan Uzun, who served for years as a member of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) General Headquarters Disciplinary Board and remains an MHP member, was subjected to an armed attack at the Yalova Courthouse.

MHP member Uzun's relatives, Coşkun Okuyan (40) and Orhan Kılıç (29), who were with him, were injured in the attack and have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

MHP member Asri Karaarslan Uzun stated in his explanation to 12punto that he had been receiving threats, especially over the last two years.

Stating that he writes articles for a local internet news site called “haberhergun.com” and that the owner of this site is his son, MHP member Uzun said, “I was receiving threats because of the news and my articles on this site.

Those who carried out the attack had previously warned me, saying, ‘Shut down the site, stop writing.’ I did not accept this,” he said.

SINAN ATEŞ FOUNTAIN

Stating that he had a sports facility built and also commissioned a fountain at this facility in memory of the assassinated former Ülkü Ocakları President Sinan Ateş, MHP member Asri Karaarslan Uzun continued as follows:

“I had a fountain built for the late Sinan Ateş at the football field. The attackers came to the facility and said, ‘Brother, you shouldn't have built this fountain.’ I said we built the fountain for the sake of God. Then they left.”

MHP member Asri Karaarslan Uzun stated that the individuals who carried out the attack also came to the opening of the sports facility, which was attended by the Yalova Governor and his deputy, and started a fight there.

MHP member Uzun described the legal process they are involved in as follows: “I was not at the scene when the fight broke out. They used profanities and threatened, ‘I will kill you all.’ Afterwards, we became involved in a lawsuit with these individuals.”

“MHP DISTRICT DEPUTY CHAIRMAN DREW A WEAPON”

Stating that they went to the Yalova Courthouse for the hearing of the lawsuit regarding this fight, MHP member Asri Karaarslan Uzun detailed the moment of the attack as follows:

“In front of the courthouse, MHP district deputy chairman Serkan Bakır drew his weapon and pointed it at me. At that moment, the weapon jammed, and two young relatives who came to the courthouse with me tried to intervene to prevent the attack. Suddenly, he fired the weapon and my two relatives were injured. It was the deputy chairman who drew the weapon, and there were two other people with him who were also armed. I travel alone everywhere. Today, by coincidence, two of my relatives had come to the courthouse with me. I was the target, that was clear. The person who carried out the attack is also an official municipal employee. They are conducting an operation against the MHP. Because no one would let an MHP official draw a weapon. We are also holding a Turkish Tribes Culture Festival today. It is unacceptable that this happened precisely today.”

Stating that the attackers were caught at the courthouse, Asri Karaarslan Uzun noted that MHP district chairman Aydın Altun was also at the scene during the attack.

A total of 9 people thought to be involved in the attack have been taken into custody.