Main Opposition Party Protests TV Channel in Cihangir

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People's Democratic Party (CHP) Beyoğlu District Directorate made a statement to the press on Firuzağa Square in response to Akit TV presenter Ahmet Keser's remarks.

Keser had spoken on TV program "Gün Başlıyor" regarding claims that the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) is killing civilians in Afrin, saying: "Why would Turkey's army go there to kill civilians? If we were to kill civilians, we would start from Cihangir, Nişantaşı, Etiler... Isn't that right? There are plenty of traitors. There's Parliament."

Reading the press statement, CHP Beyoğlu District Head Bekir Özcan articulated that although Keser had resigned following backlash, Atatürk had been insulted on Akit TV today (February 28). "We need to organize against these assaults and defend the language of peace," spoke Özcan.

"Politics to blame for language of hate"

"We know that this language of hate and divisive speech are not an individual instance limited to Ahmet Keser only. These have been Akit TV's broadcasting policy since the beginning.

"Politics of the kind that is conducive to this type of discourse is to be held responsible for the formation of such a broadcasting policy.

"Ahmet Keser is so reckless as to have said, regarding our children who lost their lives in the student dorm fire in Aladağ, 'That Republic you hold on to so tightly, that's what burned those children. The White Turks who live in Nişantaşı, in Cihangir, they burned them.'"

Prosecutors launch investigation

People's Republican Party (CHP) Istanbul MP Eren Erdem and İYİ Parti (Good Party) had filed criminal complaints against Keser after his remarks.

Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the matter for "provoking the public to hatred and hostility, or defamation".

Akit TV issued a written statement on February 28 announcing that Keser had resigned from his post. (TP/PU)