CHP's Akdoğan on 'axe-wielding protester' claim: 'Is there evidence, or is a perception being created?'

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin's statement regarding protests, "Those who participated with axes were detained," has stirred the political agenda.

CHP Ankara MP Umut Akdoğan, following these remarks that sparked public debate, submitted a written parliamentary question to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya to answer.

In his parliamentary question, Akdoğan highlighted four critical questions:

Has any information, document, or evidence supporting the "axe-wielding protester" claim reached the Ministry of Interior?

Did Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin receive information from your Ministry when using this expression?

Have any of your public personnel claimed to have been subjected to an axe attack?

How many of the 1,418 people detained between March 19 and April 10 were actually carrying axes?

"IS HE THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL EDUCATION OR A SECURITY SPOKESPERSON?"

Issuing a press statement on the matter, Akdoğan said, "Is Mr. Yusuf Tekin the Minister of National Education, or is he an internal security spokesperson? In a process where 1,418 people were detained, an expression like 'axe-wielding protester' is only the language of someone who has concrete evidence in hand or someone who wants to create a perception in the public eye."

"THE DEMOCRATIC REACTION OF YOUTH CANNOT BE CRIMINALIZED"

Pointing out how controversial the trials have been, Akdoğan recalled that 102 people were released and the house arrest of 25 people was lifted in the case opened regarding the protests in Saraçhane. Stating that "A country's Minister of National Education cannot criminalize the democratic reaction of youth," Akdoğan emphasized that the process must be clarified with transparency for the sake of public conscience.

Akdoğan concluded his statement by saying, "It is the responsibility of all of us to clarify this process."