The new Turkey
Sezgin Tanrıkulu
Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy

29-oct-19

14 October 2019:

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul MP due to his social media messages and statements about "Operation Peace Spring" launched by Turkey into northern Syria on October 9.

Releasing a written statement about the issue, the Prosecutor's Office has announced that the investigation has been launched against the MP due to his statement "The Government needs to know that: It is an unjust war, it is a war waged against the Kurds" shared on his Twitter account on October 12 and an interview given by him to some media organizations on the same day.

Referring to these statements, the Prosecutor's Office has charged Tanrıkulu with "openly degrading the State of the Republic of Turkey".

CLICK - 'Peace Spring' Investigation Against HDP Co-Chairs, 3 MPs

What happened?

After attending the 759th gathering of Peace Mothers/People intervened by the police on October 12, CHP İstanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu gave a brief live interview to Artı TV. aired online Speaking about Turkey's operation into northern Syria, Tanrıkulu said, "The Government needs to know that: It is an unjust war and this war is waged against the Kurds".

Both positive and negative comments ensued after Tanrıkulu made this statement. Tanrıkulu responded to negative criticisms on MST TV Internet broadcast and said, "You are attacking me from all sides, but I have more lovers than attackers. Thank you very much".

Addressing the issue in his columns on daily Hürriyet, Ahmet Hakan asked, "Is Sezgin Tanrıkulu the employee of National Intelligence Organization (MİT)?" and referred to a statement by CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who previously said, "The MİT has got involved to sabotage the Nation's Alliance".

Hakan wrote, "CHP's Tanrıkulu commented on police intervention against Saturday Mothers as follows: 'It is a war waged against the Kurds'."

"İYİ Party Vice Chair Aytun Çıray also said the following about Sezgin Tanrıkulu: 'He is trying to sabotage the Nation's Alliance.' Let's remember: What did CHP Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu say? He said the following: 'The MİT has got involved to sabotage the Nation's Alliance.' But... But.. Is Sezgin Tanrıkulu the employee of the MİT within the CHP?".

In response to this article, Tanrıkulu mentioned Hakan on Twitter and shared the following message: "You know what you have written means, you are targeting. You also know the cost of targeting. You do not recognize any law, but the law of remorselessness. I leave the rest to Allah". (TP/SD)