Criminal complaint against officer who targeted Diyarbakır's football club over PKK attack

The Diyarbakır Bar Association has filed a criminal complaint against the provincial gendarmerie commander of Afyon because of his remarks ahead of the 2nd League football game between Afyonspor and Diyarbakır's Amedspor on Saturday (October 1).

Giving a pep talk to the Afyonspor players ahead of the game, Yılmaz Kırgel had said, "Our hearts are with you. You job is to play football. And you do it really well. Leave the rest to us. Afyon really needs you to win.

"After the act of terrorism in Mersin, I'm saying what's in my heart, if you crush them by 5-0, we'll see them off."

On September 26, two members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) carried out a suicide attack in Mersin, southern Türkiye, killing a police officer.

Amedspor, as the football team of a Kurdish province, has long been targeted in racist attacks because of being associated with the PKK.

Filing the criminal complaint on Sunday, the bar association alleged that the commander committed the crime of "provoking a section of the public against another with different characteristics in terms of class, race, sect or religion" as per article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Video of Kırgel speaking to Afyonspor players:

Kim ırkçılık yapıyor artık #Amedspor üzerinden siyaset yapmayın

Afyon İl Jandarma Komutanı Albay Yılmaz Kırgel,Afyonspor-Amedspor maçı öncesi yaptığı konuşmada, "Mersin'de yaşadığımız terör eyleminden sonra gönlümden geçeni söylüyorum:5-0. Eze eze yenersiniz, buradan göndeririz" pic.twitter.com/Lzj9KaZwaA

— Amedspor (@AmedsporSK) October 1, 2022

Opposition politicians also condemned Kırgel for associating a football team with an illegal armed group.

MP Özgür Özel of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) tweeted, "This mentality, which identifies a city and its team with a terrorist organization, is the chief enemy of the fight against terrorism."

Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party MP Mustafa Yeneroğlu tweeted, "Who is the separatist now? A colonel who associated Diyarbakır and Amedspor with terrorism? Such a colonel should be dismissed immediately."

Responding to the criticism, Kırgel said in a written statement that his remarks were recorded and released without his knowledge.

He said his intention was to warn players "not to cause any unfavorable situation" and motivate them, and expressed his sadness that his words caused misunderstandings. (VK)