DEVA district building in southeastern Turkey attacked with Molotov cocktails

Duvar English

Unidentified assailants on late Nov. 7 attacked the opposition Democracy and Progress Party’s (DEVA) office in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır’s Lice district with Molotov cocktails.

The windows of the building were broken in the attack. The fire caused by Molotov cocktails was extinguished before it grew by nearby citizens.

Announcing the attack, DEVA’s Diyarbakır provincial chair Cihan Ülsen on Nov. 8 said “We see this attack on our district building as an attack on democracy and strongly condemn it. We expect the perpetrators of this attack on our party and democracy from the security forces to be revealed as soon as possible and brought to justice.”

In a social media post, DEVA leader Ali Babacan said, “I strongly condemn the molotov cocktail attack on our Diyarbakir Lice district office. I convey my best wishes to our friends from Diyarbakır. We will follow the process to clarify all aspects of the attack and punish the perpetrators.”

DEVA Party also released a statement on its Twitter account, saying that the attack “cannot be dismissed as an ordinary and isolated incident.”

“In the days leading up to the election process, condoning actions that will endanger both life and election security is unacceptable. A fair and democratic political ground is valid to the extent that every individual in our country feels the atmosphere of peace and security. Therefore, the attack in Lice should be clarified as soon as possible,” it said.