Pro-gov’t columnist calls for arrest of Turkey’s main opposition leader and deputies

The staunchly pro-government and radical Islamist Yeni Akit daily columnist Mehtap Yılmaz on Monday called for the arrest of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and three CHP deputies in her column.

Accusing Kılıçdaroğlu of “explicitly committing crime”, “serving the Middle Eastern goals of the European Union by defaming his country” and “supporting putschists,” Yılmaz said CHP leader has to be thrown out on in his ear and put in jail.

“There is no point in beating around the bush…This man is explicitly committing crime! He is giving overt support to putschist terrorist organization. So then…Since he is doing all of that for no reason. Since he is stabbing the tourism sector in the back. Since he is provoking the world to hatred and enmity against Turkey. Throw this guy into jail grabbing him by the ear and be done with it,” wrote Yılmaz.

Yılmaz said CHP chairman would only be “purified” in a prison and suggested CHP deputies Elif Doğan Türkmen, Eren Erdem and Gamze İlgezdi to be jailed in nearby wards “for the sake of it.”

Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan had also implied that Kılıçdaroğlu may be detained or brought before a court to testify during a “March of Justice,” which CHP leader had initiated in protest of the arrest of a CHP deputy, Enis Berberoğlu.

Accusing Kılıçdaroğlu of defending putschists and terrorists, Erdoğan threatened Kılıçdaroğlu with not being able to go out into the street again, during a commemoration event in Ankara.

Yeni Akit columnist came under media attention after her controversial tweets about Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, and his adopted daughter Afet İnan.

Yılmaz was visited in a hospital in Gaziantep in December 17, 2016 by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar. The pictures of his visit were published on the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) official website. (turkishminute.com)

Take a second to support Stockholm Center for Freedom on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!