Allegations that Gürsel Tekin 'attacked an elected provincial official'
Ata Temur, a substitute member of the Provincial Executive Board who was performing his routine duty at the Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Provincial Headquarters, has alleged that he was subjected to an attempted physical assault and verbal abuse by Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as a trustee to the CHP Provincial Presidency. The Gürsel Tekin camp has denied the allegations.
Cenk Başboğaoğlu
In the third hearing of the lawsuit filed for the cancellation of the CHP's 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress, the court had decided to remove the administration of CHP Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik from office and appoint Gürsel Tekin as a trustee. In response, the court had set the date for the next hearing as February 27, 2026 (tomorrow), in line with the request for the dismissal of the case.
One day before the hearing, on February 26, 2026 (today), Ata Temur, a substitute member of the Provincial Executive Board who was performing his routine duty, alleged that Tekin attempted to attack him and that he was subjected to insults.
Speaking to 12punto, Temur described his allegation as follows:
“The incident occurred after an argument between Gürsel Tekin's own staff and the building personnel around noon. Tekin entered the duty room on the ground floor, where I was also present, and began to scold and shout at the staff. Upon the request of the staff member, I did not say anything and continued to sit in my chair in order to calm the situation. Gürsel Tekin walked towards the staff. Suddenly, he started shouting at me too. I reacted to this”...
Temur described the physical dimensions of his allegation with the words: “He picked up the hole puncher on the table and started waving it towards my face. Again, I did not react. Then he slammed the hole puncher onto the table. Later, he was removed from there by someone else who entered the duty room at that moment.”
On the other hand, Temur claimed that Tekin insulted him by shouting, "I will make you eat those mustaches."
STATEMENT FROM THE GÜRSEL TEKİN CAMP
Gürsel Tekin's lawyer, Yiğit Acar, stated in his explanation to 12punto that the allegations are untrue.
Acar spoke as follows:
"When Mr. Gürsel was entering the party building around noon, he warned a few people who were taking unauthorized photos of individuals, including official personnel, and aid packages being carried into the party building, saying, "Don't do this, kids. The officials say they are uncomfortable. When did you become so detached from CHP identity and party culture?" Then he entered the party building and went upstairs. The incident consists of nothing more than this. Statements to the contrary are not only contrary to the material truth but also constitute a deliberate and systematic attack on personal rights."