Who are the journalists who were beaten during the Sinan Ateş era?

The first hearing of the trial regarding the murder of Sinan Ateş, the former head of the Ülkü Ocakları, who was killed in an armed attack in Ankara, continues into its fourth day.

In court, Ayşe Ateş stated that her husband, Sinan Ateş, had journalists beaten under the instructions of MHP members, noting the following: 'You said, "Sinan Ateş had some people, some journalists, beaten." Yes, Sinan Ateş had some people beaten. At that time, I confronted Sinan and said, "These things do not suit you, don't do these things. If you are going to do them, don't be the head of the hearth." He said, "Ayşe, I am carrying out instructions coming from the MHP Headquarters. If I don't do them, they will penalize me too."

'SİNAN DID NOT HAVE JOURNALISTS BEATEN'

According to the report compiled by PolitikYol; it is not yet clear exactly which journalists Sinan Ateş had beaten. Ateş's friend, Ömer Zengin, told PolitikYol, "Sinan Ateş did not have any journalist beaten." However, our research indicates that there were many journalists who were attacked for criticizing MHP members during the period when Sinan Ateş served as the head of the Ülkü Ocakları.

THE SİNAN ATEŞ ERA

Sinan Ateş served as the head of the Ülkü Ocakları between January 9, 2019, and April 2, 2020. According to reports in the press during this period, some journalists were attacked for criticizing the MHP. The majority of these journalists were working with figures who had broken away from the MHP to establish the İYİ Party.

In an archive search conducted by PolitikYol, it was observed that the following journalists were subjected to attacks:

MAY 10, 2019: YAVUZ SELİM DEMİRAĞ

Yavuz Selim Demirağ, a columnist for the Yeniçağ newspaper known for his proximity to the İYİ Party, was attacked by a group in front of his home in Ankara on May 10, 2019, after participating in a program on Türkiyem TV. While many political figures reacted to the attack, no statement was made by the AKP or the MHP.

MAY 25, 2019: SABAHATTİN ÖNKİBAR

On May 25, 2019, Sabahattin Önkibar was also attacked 300 meters from his home in Ankara. Three people blocked his path and assaulted Önkibar; he was taken to the hospital and received a 10-day medical report for work incapacity.

BAHÇELİ'S REMARKS

While Önkibar filed a complaint against the attackers, one of the vehicles used by the assailants was identified according to eyewitness accounts.

Stating that the Governor of Ankara called him to express his well wishes, Önkibar shared the information that the attackers' vehicle was a rental.

Having filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office, Önkibar drew attention to the statements of MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli and said, "I was expecting it after Bahçeli's statements."

NOVEMBER 20, 2019: AHMET TAKAN

Korkusuz Newspaper columnist Ahmet Takan was attacked with a baseball bat in front of his home in the Dikmen district of Ankara on November 20, 2019. MHP Secretary General İsmet Büyükataman had targeted Ahmet Takan following his article titled 'Will someone from the AKP take over the leadership of the MHP?' published on November 13.

THREATENED BY MHP MEMBERS: İDRİS ÖZYOL

On May 15, 2019, investigative journalist İdris Özyol was attacked in Antalya. Özyol, a columnist for the local newspaper Akdeniz'de Yeni Yüzyıl published in Antalya, was injured in the head and chest during a baseball bat attack outside the newspaper building. It was stated that MHP Muratpaşa District Chairman Talu Bilgili had threatened Özyol, and calls for an investigation were made.

The police caught the attackers based on security camera footage; it was revealed that they had gone to the MHP Muratpaşa district headquarters after the attack.

HAKAN DENİZLİ

On May 24, 2019, Hakan Denizli, the owner of the daily Egemen Gazetesi in Adana, was attacked.

It was learned that Denizli, who had reportedly been receiving threatening phone calls for several days, was leaving his house in the morning with his daughter and grandchild when a person approached him and attempted to shoot, but due to Denizli's intervention, the assailant fired downwards.

Denizli, who was hit by two bullets in his calf, was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery. Denizli had been attacked many times before.

METİN IŞIK

Metin Işık, the owner of the Iğdır Haber newspaper, was attacked on November 27, 2019, by a group alleged to be members of the Ülkü Ocakları following his critical articles about MHP Deputy Yaşar Karadağ. After the attack, Işık said: "I wrote critical articles about Iğdır Deputy Yaşar Karadağ several times. Because of this article, Mutluhan Kaçkar threatened me once or twice. While I was going home from the mosque, Mutluhan Kakçar, who appeared with a large group, said 'How are you, brother?' and pulled a gun. Then he hit me with the stick in his hand. Then the others started hitting me too. There were at least 15 people. I had wounds on my head, back, and leg."