CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır: Those who link the attack to the President's toxic rhetoric are right

As the political agenda focuses on the attack against Özgür Özel, the fact that the assailant had previously killed his own children and has a significant criminal record is being viewed as a striking development. While investigations into the attacker continue, CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır evaluated the situation during a live broadcast on Halktv.

Başarır made the following statements regarding the attack and its aftermath:

Authorities called immediately after the incident and said they would pursue the matter and collect evidence, but we will also follow up on this case. There is a 'crime machine' out there, and this person managed to get there completely unchecked.

Think about the building; when you look at the left and right sides, the number of police in the area where we were was insufficient. A security perimeter was not established, and we couldn't even get out of the parking lot. He watched us, planned it, and carried out the act.

This state belongs to everyone, not just the AKP; the security perimeter provided to ministers should also be applied to us. 

The funeral of the Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) was being held, and high-level political figures were attending; a stronger security perimeter should have been established there. Following the incident, I have also been assigned close protection. 

PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN'S 'THEY WILL PERISH' REMARKS RECALLED

Turkey has been in a serious spiral of violence for a long time, especially over the last 6 months... The sentences used by the MHP, MHP deputy chairmen, and Mr. Erdoğan are mind-boggling...

These types of sentences are not spoken randomly; what upsets me is that these words are read from a teleprompter... 

A language of threat should not be used; we are not at war. We aspire to govern this country. We believe that a change of government is essential in this country. Why should we 'perish' because of this? Why should they make us 'perish' because of this? Why should society find the courage to carry out attacks after hearing these words?

Political discourse should not be like this; what does it mean to 'perish' (telef etmek)! I am still in shock over this sentence, and he still has not apologized. Immediately after, there are those who link the occurrence of this attack to the President's toxic rhetoric, and they are right about this...

The president of this country must abandon this language and style; he should not use such words. We are not Turkey's problem! Justice, foreign policy, the economy... 

WHAT DID YOU FEEL DURING AND AFTER THE ATTACK?

Mr. Özel tried to calm me down after the attack. A leader must be calm and cool-headed, but the 'A-Team' and the deputies were not, of course... No one found such an event acceptable. Our Chairman is the leader of the party; he manages this party. It was right for him to send a message to the 86 million immediately after the incident... He received praise from many segments, but our perspective on the matter is, of course, much different! I am only just recovering; he is our chairman... Our feelings in this sense might be a bit different. 

BAHÇELİ'S STATEMENT

I wish Mr. Bahçeli had not made a statement. What kind of thing is it to issue a message without mentioning the name of the Chairman of the person who was attacked! I wish he hadn't issued such a message; for me, it is null and void.