Parliamentary Speaker condemns the attack on TİP MP Barış Atay

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Mustafa Şentop has condemned the physical attack on Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Vice Chair and Hatay MP Barış Atay.

CLICK - Workers' Party MP Barış Atay attacked

Answering a question of a reporter from the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) yesterday (August 31), Şentop has noted that he talked to the related officials about the incident and obtained information about it.

"A physical attack on an MP is unacceptable. I condemn it. What is necessary is being done to inquire about the incident in its all aspects and to identify and investigate the perpetrators," Şentop has said.

What happened?

After Specialist Sergeant Musa O. was released from prison despite facing charges for "sexually assaulting" 18-year-old İpek E. and driving her to suicide in Batman province, TİP Hatay MP Barış Atay shared a social media post about the alleged phone messages of Musa O.

Tagging Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Atay said, "You protected and backed a serial rapist. We will make efforts to ensure that it will be held against you for the rest of your life and you will not ever forget it."

In response to this message, Minister Soylu tweeted:

"The left-over of the PKK and DHKP-C [Kurdistan Workers' Party and Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front], who became an MP from the HDP [Peoples' Democratic Party] upon the instruction of the PKK heads. I cannot be a 'rapist protector,' but you would make quite a rapist... The protector of Tuma [Çelik]; watch out, don't get caught..."

Shortly after Minister Soylu shared this post, Barış Atay, the Vice Chair and Hatay MP of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), was attacked by a group of five people in Kadıköy, İstanbul on August 31. While Barış Atay and his friends were leaving a restaurant in Kadıköy at around 1.30 a.m., the group attacked him, calling the MP a "traitor."

Taken to the Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital, the MP was treated for a suspected broken rib and trauma. Staying in the hospital until early morning hours, Atay made a statement after he left the hospital. "I am good now, there is nothing serious," he has said and added, "We will hold a press statement on Tuesday." (EKN/SD)