Turkey's main opposition leader attacked in Istanbul
Also in Turkey
Kurdish leaders praise peace efforts of Sirri Sureyya Onder who died Saturday
Key member of Ankara-PKK peace talks team passes away
Turkey's Gabar oil field production nears $2 billion: Erdogan
PKK says expects Ocalan to lead party congress
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ozgur Ozel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was attacked in Istanbul on Sunday after attending the funeral of pro-Kurdish politician Sirri Sureyya Onder.
Ozel was slapped in the face after attending the funeral in Istanbul. The attacker was immediately detained and taken into custody, the opposition ANKA media outlet reported.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Ozel after the attack 'to express his best wishes for a speedy recovery, and stated that he is closely following the process to ensure the incident is fully investigated,' Fahrettin Altun, head of communications for the Turkish presidency, said on X.
The attack was strongly condemned by Erdogan and major voices across Turkey, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).
'This attack is essentially a provocation for the search for peace and a democratic society, embodied by Sirri Sureyya Onder,' the DEM Party said in a statement, condemning the attack and wishing a speedy recovery.
Onder, 62, was a member of the Turkish parliament on the ticket of the DEM Party. He was part of the Imrali delegation that visited jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader in his Imrali island prison and is mediating peace talks between the PKK and the Turkish state. His death comes at a pivotal moment in the negotiations.
The attacker, identified as 66-year-old S.T., has a criminal record from a 2004 trial for killing two of his children and injuring the two others. 'There is no sign of mental illness, according to the first determinations,' ANKA said, citing a statement from Istanbul's public prosecutor.
'He has a record for theft and crimes of threat. S.T., who was sentenced to life imprisonment, was released on parole in 2020,' the interior ministry said, and Minister Ali Yerlikaya asserted that the assailant 'will receive the punishment he deserves before the law.'
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) also condemned the attack.
'We condemn the attack on CHP leader Ozgur Ozel. We extend our best wishes to Mr. Ozel. No attack on the institution of politics is acceptable. The attacker will be held accountable before the law,' AKP spokesperson Omer Celik said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
7 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
German politician slams Berlin's push to tighten migration policies
Also in World Rojava Kurds launch new pro-Kurdish organization in the Netherlands US urges Iran to accept its proposal for nuclear deal EU announces €175 million package to support Syria recovery UN hails 'historic' progress in Ankara-PKK peace talks A+ A- BERLIN - A German politician criticized Berlin's move to tighten migration policies and speed up deportations, and warned against mainstreaming the term 'illegal migration.' 'Until three years ago, there was no term 'illegal migration,'' Volkan Baran, member of the North Rhine-Westphalia parliament from the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), told Rudaw in an interview on Wednesday. He said use of the phrase 'illegal migration' has risen with a growth in right-wing politics and called it 'catastrophic.' At the federal level, Baran's SPD is in a governing coalition with the center-right CDU/CSU alliance. The cabinet this week approved new migration measures to tighten asylum laws, including making deportations easier. The new rules must still be approved by the parliament. Baran accused the CDU of unilaterally shaping the coalition government on the issue. 'I don't believe there are illegal people,' he said, while acknowledging that 'of course, there are laws that must be followed.' 'If someone came here and misused the asylum issue, then they must also leave, because those who truly need asylum must be protected,' he said. Baran supports allowing asylum seekers to enter the labor market after three months, warning that making applicants wait up to two years without being able to work or access education could have problematic consequences. 'This makes you crazy, so you radicalize yourself,' he said. Baran voiced strong opposition to deportations to Syria, citing instability and risks to vulnerable populations. After the collapse of the dictatorship in Syria, many refugees are hoping to finally return home. The United Nations estimates some 1.5 million Syrians will choose to go home in 2025. Baran acknowledged that Syrians who choose to return voluntarily should be free to do so, he opposed forced returns, stating, 'I think deportation to Syria is too early at the moment.' 'Especially for minorities, Syria is not safe,' he added. Regarding Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, he said, 'I believe his hands are stained with the blood of many people. Just because he took off his robe and cut his beard, that doesn't make him a democrat or diplomatic in my view.'
Rudaw Net
7 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Rojava Kurds launch new pro-Kurdish organization in the Netherlands
Also in World German politician slams Berlin's push to tighten migration policies US urges Iran to accept its proposal for nuclear deal EU announces €175 million package to support Syria recovery UN hails 'historic' progress in Ankara-PKK peace talks A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A group of Kurds from northeast Syria (Rojava) have established an organization in the Dutch city of Arnhem to 'unite and represent' the estimated 50,000 Rojava Kurds living in the Netherlands, a member of the preparatory committee said on Sunday. Speaking to Rudaw during the launch event, Ster Ahmad, a committee member, explained that 'over the past 14 years, a significant number of Rojava Kurds have arrived in the Netherlands, but unfortunately, until now, there hasn't been a comprehensive organization to bring them together and protect their rights.' Asked about the total number of Rojava Kurds in the Netherlands, Ahmad noted that official statistics are unavailable, as Rojava Kurds are typically categorized as Syrians. 'There are more than 150,000 Syrians in the Netherlands,' he said. 'Before 2011, there were over 8,000 Rojava Kurds here. Now, we estimate the number exceeds 50,000.' The newly-formed organization, called the Western Kurdistan Kurds Association, aims to focus on artistic, diplomatic, and social initiatives. It will also advocate for the rights and political causes of Kurds in Rojava. This initiative adds to a growing trend of Kurdish organizations emerging across Europe in recent months. In early May, a new Kurdish institute officially opened in the southwestern Swiss city of Lausanne. Modeled in part after the Kurdish Institute in Paris - established in February 1983 - the Lausanne institute is expected to work towards preserving and promoting Kurdish culture, heritage and language. The Kurdish Institute in Paris is a non-political, secular organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of Kurdish language, culture, and heritage. It remains a vital hub for Kurdish intellectuals, artists, scholars, and members of the general public interested in Kurdish studies.
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Safeguarding Iraq's heritage: About 500 dialects in danger
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraq's Strategic Center for Human Rights urged the government to launch immediate measures to safeguard the country's linguistic diversity, as nearly 500 dialects face erosion due to globalization. In a report, the center described these dialects as a core component of Iraq's cultural identity and oral heritage, shaped by centuries of ethnic, religious, and regional plurality. 'Preserving dialects protects collective memory and reinforces national belonging,' the report stated, calling linguistic diversity a national asset that demands institutional protection. Linguists estimate Iraq's dialectal spectrum spans Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen, Assyrian, Mandaic, and Yazidi variations, many of which are passed down orally and remain undocumented. The center also stressed that dialect loss is not merely a linguistic issue, but a threat to cultural continuity, especially in marginalized or rural communities. The warning aligns with a global trend highlighted by UNESCO, which estimates that over 40% of the world's 7,000 languages are endangered. Iraq's rich linguistic landscape, shaped by successive civilizations, places it among the countries most exposed to this global phenomenon. 'When a dialect disappears, a worldview disappears with it,' said Ali Haddad, director of the Iraqi Folklore Archive. 'These are not just words—they are repositories of history, customs, and identity.' The center called on the Ministry of Education and cultural institutions to integrate dialect documentation into national curricula and academic programs, urging funding for research centers to study endangered dialects and support media and artistic content that showcases spoken vernaculars.
