Attack on tent set up for signature campaign in Samsun!

In the Bafra district of Samsun, CHP Women's Branch President Hülya Bayraktar and party member Leyla Demir were subjected to a physical and stone-throwing attack by two individuals at a signature stand set up yesterday for the release of CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. CHP members expressed their reaction to the attack in a statement made in front of the Bafra Police Department.

"WE REJECT THIS MENTALITY THAT ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE"

CHP Samsun Provincial Chairman Mehmet Özdağ stated the following:

"This attack is not only against our party members but also an attack on democracy, freedom of expression, and the will of the people. The language used for a long time by those governing the country against their political opponents, especially against Turkey's leading party, the Republican People's Party, and Mr. Özgür Özel, and in particular the word 'telef' (exterminated/wiped out) used recently, has manifested today in the form of an attack on the streets. We reject this mentality that encourages violence. We see that those emboldened by this language that encourages violence have become unable to tolerate even the most basic pursuit of rights within democratic law. What needs to be questioned here is the system that creates two attackers out of two young women.

It should not be forgotten that our signature stand, which we launched with the slogan 'We want our candidate by our side and the ballot box in front of us' for the release of our President Ekrem from the Silivri dungeons—whose presidential candidacy has been finalized for our party with the votes of 15.5 million people—will continue without ever fearing, tiring, or giving up, neither in Samsun nor across the country, despite such attacks."

Hülya Bayraktar, the CHP Samsun Bafra Women's Branch President who was attacked, said, "I am saddened to experience such a thing in our struggle for rights, law, and justice. We will continue our struggle. We will not tire, we will not be afraid. When I arrived, I was directly attacked. I was dragged by my hair. I was kicked."

"IT CREATES A SENSE THAT POTENTIAL ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE"

CHP Samsun Deputy Murat Çan stated the following:

"This attack creates a sense in our entire society that the attacks that have occurred so far and potential future attacks will continue. The fact that this occurred after President Erdoğan used the term 'telef' regarding our chairman at a funeral 4-5 days ago, and that today, emboldened by that previous attack, very serious, battery-level violence was inflicted upon our two female members and administrators by two young women, is entirely the point reached by the language used in politics recently.

On one hand, those who claim that this attack and the attack on our chairman were made against all of democracy, and who condemn this with violence and hatred, are pointing something out to the citizens with the phrase 'you should have learned a lesson from this' using the same language. We all experienced the reflection of this here together. We thank our valuable lawyers very much. Our District Chairman was out of town today and has quickly set off for Bafra. We will be following up on this."