Haluk Hepkon sharply condemns attack on Oktay Yıldırım: 'Your courage comes from the Kurdish opening'

Journalist and author Haluk Hepkon reacted sharply to the attack on Oktay Yıldırım, a retired soldier and victim of the Ergenekon frame-up, who was assaulted in the village of Dutluca in Burhaniye district of Balıkesir.

In a statement on his social media account, Hepkon argued that the atmosphere of the "new Kurdish Opening" was behind the attack. "The courage of those who attacked Oktay Yıldırım, a victim of the Ergenekon Frame-up, comes from the new Kurdish Opening. They are probably thinking: 'What does it matter to attack a war veteran at a time when Öcalan is accepted as a founding leader? It will go unpunished anyway.' They will come to understand that they are mistaken," he said.

Ergenekon Kumpası mağduru Oktay Yıldırım, Balıkesir Burhaniye Dutluca köyünde saldırıya uğradı. Yıldırım'a saldıranların cesareti yeni Kürt Açılımından geliyor. Herhalde "Öcalan'ın 'kurucu lider' kabul edildiği bir dönemde bir gaziye saldırmanın ne önemi var? Nasıl olsa yanımıza… pic.twitter.com/UQalGYfYCw

— Haluk Hepkon (@halukhepkon) August 11, 2025

The incident occurred after Yıldırım protested the closure of a village road. According to a report by Aykırı, Yıldırım was beaten by the village headman and those around him; he sustained a head injury and his firearm was taken from him. While Yıldırım took refuge in his home awaiting the arrival of gendarmerie units, the windows of his vehicle were smashed, its tyres were punctured, and it was rendered unusable.

The gendarmerie has launched an investigation into the incident.