Attack on Starbucks and Burger King branches in Diyarbakır brought to Parliament: 'Have judicial proceedings been initiated?'

In the Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır, a group entered a Starbucks branch and a Burger King branch in Sur, chanting takbirs and shouting slogans of "War, jihad, martyrdom." The group, which also chanted anti-Israel slogans, caused material damage to the businesses. The group also assaulted some employees and customers.

Kürşad Zorlu submitted a parliamentary question to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) for Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya to answer regarding the events in Diyarbakır. 

In his motion, Zorlu stated, “Meetings and protest marches are a constitutional right, but when this right interferes with the freedom of another individual, the state must perform its duty. The attack by a group on certain businesses in the Sur district of Diyarbakır has gone beyond a protest and has taken on an appearance contrary to the freedom of citizens and social unity and order. These and similar incidents can lead to significant damages later on.” 

'HOW MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED?'

Zorlu directed the following questions to Minister Yerlikaya:  

- Have the perpetrators of these incidents been identified? 

- If they have been identified, how many of the individuals have had their identities confirmed?

- Have any judicial proceedings been initiated against those who caused the incidents?

- If judicial proceedings have been initiated against the individuals, under which articles of the Turkish Penal Code have they been initiated?

- What kind of work is being done to prevent such attacks that target the peace of citizens and society by going beyond the rights defined in the Constitution?