Armed attack on CHP officials in Konya: 'You will not be able to silence us with bullets'

The written statement issued by the CHP is as follows:

"Erhan Adem, as we were preparing for our public meeting to be held in Konya on Saturday, May 4, as part of our 'We Stand by the National Will' rallies as the Republican People's Party, two separate incidents that occurred today have once again revealed the government's intolerance for democratic politics.

Today, in the Çumra district of Konya, our Provincial Deputy Chair Mustafa Durmaz and Central District Deputy Chair Muhammet Keskince, who were working in the field to announce our rally, were subjected to an armed attack by an individual. While they were working with an announcement vehicle in the industrial zone, an individual who came out of a shop blocked the vehicle's path, opened fire with a gun, and fled the scene while swearing. Unfortunately, the initial attitude of the authorities following the incident was aimed at covering up the attack. Following our reaction, the individual was taken into custody, but we will all see together whether true justice will be served.

On the same day, our veteran driver, who was detained on April 23 for driving our party's bus, was sentenced to house arrest by a court decision. In other words, if one is punished for doing their job while the other is protected despite attacking with a gun, there is no justice here, but a clear double standard.

The question is clear and precise:

What kind of decision will those who confine a laborer to their home for driving a party bus make for the attacker who fired bullets?

These two incidents are a clear threat not only to the CHP but also to the will of the people, democracy, and the right to engage in politics. Let those who block our buses, those who have bullets fired at them, and those who punish our laborers know this well: No matter what you do, no matter which path you try, we will not turn back from this path.

We are the party of the people.

We are the party of those who grow hope and do not surrender to darkness.

The more you try to silence us, the more we will speak.

The more you increase the pressure, the more we will grow our solidarity.

This attack and the lawlessness experienced today, instead of intimidating us, are further strengthening our struggle. We will continue to meet with our people in Konya, in the squares, and street by street.

You will not be able to silence us with bullets. You will not be able to stop us with house arrest."

STATEMENT ON DETENTION FROM THE KONYA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

The Konya Governor's Office announced that two individuals who fired into the air with a so-called blank-firing gun in front of the Republican People's Party audio broadcast vehicle have been taken into custody.

In the statement made from the Konya Governor's Office's social media account, it was stated, "On May 1, 2025, around 16:00, while the Republican People's Party audio broadcast vehicle was promoting the Konya rally to take place on May 3, 2025, it was learned that individuals named M. K. and B.D. fired into the air with a so-called blank-firing gun while the vehicle was moving in front of a workplace in the industry located in Çaybaşı Neighborhood, and as a result of the work carried out by our teams, the suspect individuals were caught in a short time along with the blank-firing pistol.

In his statement at the police station, suspect M. K. declared that he sympathized with the CHP, that he was a fellow countryman because the vehicle had a 70 license plate, and that he fired into the air out of joy when he saw the promotional vehicle; two empty blank-firing casings were found at the scene and taken under protection for examination.

The suspect individuals' workplaces, homes, and vehicles were searched, and no crime or criminal elements were found. The individuals were taken into custody on May 2, 2025, to be presented to the Çumra Chief Public Prosecutor's Office," it was said.

News Source: 12punto