Arrest warrant issued in attack on CHP's Şerafettin Bahadır

In the Pınarbaşı district of Kayseri, an arrest warrant has been issued for the brother and nephew of the former mayor of Pınarbaşı, Menduh Uzunluoğlu, in connection with the incident where CHP member Şerafettin Bahadır's car was blocked, and he was beaten and seriously injured in an armed attack.

CHP WON THE DISTRICT PREVIOUSLY HELD BY MHP

In the March 31 elections in Kayseri's Pınarbaşı district, the election was canceled following an objection by the MHP, and polls were reopened on June 2 according to the decision of the district election board.

Following the renewed election, CHP candidate Deniz Yağan received 6 thousand 783 votes, surpassing his MHP rival.

The folk dance called "Topal" (Lame) performed by the district's CHP council member Şerafettin Bahadır after the election was interpreted as a jab at Menduh Uzunluoğlu.

STATEMENT FROM AKP REGARDING THE ATTACK ON CHP'S BAHADIR

The AKP Kayseri Provincial Presidency stated in its announcement regarding the attack on Şerafettin Bahadır, who was a municipal council member candidate in the Pınarbaşı district: "We do not find it correct to associate the fact that the MHP candidate's brother, unable to stomach the 'insult' made to his older brother, injured Şerafettin Bahadır, with the MHP or the institution of politics."

The statement from the AKP Kayseri Provincial Presidency continued: "As is known, as a result of the local elections held in Pınarbaşı on June 2, 2024, the mayorship passed from the MHP to the CHP. Of course, a democratic stance requires consent to the will of the people and accepting the results and congratulating the winner. Our country's history of democracy and free elections has accumulated the experience that will ensure the formation of political and social consciousness that there is competition, not hostility, between political parties and candidates. However, sometimes, even on a local scale, attitudes and behaviors that exceed the limits of competition develop, actions that touch people's sensitive points can be taken mutually, and these can lead to unwanted and never-approved events occurring.

Indeed, it appears that a fellow citizen of ours who was on the winning side as a result of the renewed elections in Pınarbaşı got carried away with the celebration and turned the election results from a political matter into a personal one. As it stands, the excessive celebrations seem to have caused the competition, which is always present and essential in the nature of politics, to turn into anger and the issue to be personalized rather than remaining political.

Therefore, we do not find it correct to associate the fact that the MHP candidate's brother, unable to stomach the 'insult' made to his older brother, injured Şerafettin Bahadır, with the MHP or the institution of politics. Ultimately, in our view, trying to produce politics from such a regrettable incident is not a healthy or correct approach for any political party or individual.

Furthermore, such approaches will not serve the tranquility of our Pınarbaşı district. Our expectation is that the independent judiciary will reveal the incident in all its clarity. As people who respect the law, we would like to state that waiting for the results of the prosecution, investigation, and the judiciary would be the most correct behavior. On this occasion, we wish our fellow citizen Şerafettin Bahadır a speedy recovery. We also consider it a duty in terms of political ethics to say that we find the use of people's physical characteristics as political material to be ugly and unethical. But the unchangeable principle that no justification can legitimize violence is not open to debate for us. The AK Party, with all its individuals and institutions, will continue to stand by justice and truth and protect the rights of the people of Pınarbaşı," the statement concluded.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

In the March 31, 2024 Local Administration General Elections in Kayseri's Pınarbaşı district, CHP candidate Deniz Yağan finished the election in the lead with 5 thousand 82 votes in the counts made after the voting process ended. The MHP candidate, incumbent Mayor Menduh Uzunluoğlu, took 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 unstamped 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 June 2.

MHP'S ERSOY: TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY

MHP Kayseri Deputy Baki Ersoy, who made a written statement after the cancellation of the elections, said: "As a result of our objections, the District Election Board decided to cancel and repeat the Pınarbaşı Mayoral and Council Member elections with 6 affirmative votes and 1 dissenting vote. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, you have failed again due to wrong directions. As someone who has served as a chairman, I will not answer you with your own style. But know this, all of Turkey knows me and you better now. Today is my birthday, happy birthday to me."

ERSOY'S INSULTS TO THE DISTRICT ELECTION JUDGE

On the other hand, footage regarding CHP Kayseri Provincial Chairman Feyzullah Keskin and MHP Kayseri Deputy Baki Ersoy also leaked online. In the video shared by many people on social media, moments were captured 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 deputy Baki Ersoy just before the attack. Ersoy, who caused controversy with his profanities directed at Pınarbaşı ballot box committee members on the night of the canceled election, had shared the following message: “For those who value their honor more than their property, their religion more than their life, and their afterlife more than their world, battle is a wedding. Sometimes the way to win is through sacrifice.”

It was noted that the attack on CHP members occurred shortly after Ersoy's post. The defeated former mayor in Pınarbaşı 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' çiftetelli.

His brother and relatives, claiming that MHP's Memduh Uzunluoğlu was being alluded to, 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 stomach the election result on 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 stomach this answer and receiving the message of the people, this time they attacked an innocent, guiltless person with clubs and fired bullets while he was defenseless next to his daughter. Let them know this; what they did 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 are not saddened. We have started taking the necessary steps as of tonight. I warn you once again; what you have done shows neither your strength nor your power... The only thing seen is your helplessness and desperation."

MHP members responded quickly to Özel's statements.

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'

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

"Mr. Özgür, the renewed elections were a legal process and were repeated and concluded. However, why did you not refer to the mentality that displayed the exact definition of the word HELPLESS by dancing accompanied by your party members who applauded while mocking all our disabled citizens due to the disability of our Pınarbaşı Mayor? On the night the son of the CHP Kayseri Provincial Chairman committed suicide earlier (May the brother's soul rest in peace. I offered my condolences, I am writing this for the HELPLESS AND DISABLED mentalities who accuse me because I will not get into family matters), you did not say to the vile wretches who targeted me again and were able to say 'Research 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 accusing and why?' Did you not say to the HELPLESS and DISABLED mentalities who targeted me again in the hospital corridors last night, 'It is based on the heavy provocation carried out by the person who displayed behavior we do not approve of towards the person who mocked his brother's disability on the night of March 31, the brother probably doesn't even know about it, and what does this have to do with incitement?'

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

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 constantly remain in the gutter."

YÖNTER TO ÖZEL: 'CAPTIVE ÖZGÜR'

Another reaction to CHP leader Özel came from MHP Deputy Chairman and Istanbul deputy İzzet Ulvi Yönter.

Quoting MHP Kayseri deputy Baki Ersoy's tweet, Yönter said, "Özgür, you have practically made lying and slander your profession, pity you... But you will be embarrassed again, you will be cornered again... Captive Özgür, go to another door..."