Statement from Bakırhan and Hatimoğulları regarding the attack on the Turkish flag: Disrespect for a shared value

In their statement, Hatimoğulları and Bakırhan said, "We would like to express that we absolutely do not accept the flag removal incident that occurred at the Nusaybin-Qamishli border. It is never acceptable to show disrespect toward the flag, which is a shared value of the Turkish society and a symbol of the country." 

Due to attacks on Kurdish neighborhoods in Syria, the DEM Party held its group meeting this week at the Border Park in Nusaybin, on the Qamishli border. Following the meeting, a group headed toward the border. On the Qamishli border, it was observed that the Turkish flag on the border line had been removed. The Presidential Communications Directorate announced that the incident was a "clear provocation" and that an investigation had been launched.

The following statements were used in the joint statement made by DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan:

"We would like to express that we absolutely do not accept the flag removal incident that occurred at the Nusaybin-Qamishli border. It is never acceptable to show disrespect toward the flag, which is a shared value of the Turkish society and a symbol of the country.

As the DEM Party, we would like to state that we absolutely do not approve of and do not find this behavior, which diverted a legitimate protest march from its purpose, to be correct."