Ultranationalist mob tries to attack HDP deputies during Kobane trial

An ultranationalist mob has attempted to attack HDP deputies during a hearing of the Kobane trial. The group also chanted racist slogans at the courthouse.

Wednesday June 16 2021 02:30 pm

Duvar English

An ultranationalist mob has tried to attack Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies during a hearing of the Kobane trial.

The group carrying Turkish flags arrived at the Sincan Courthouse before the hearing began on June 16 and started chanting racist slogans that targeted Armenians.

While the police officers didn't try to stop the group, HDP politicians countered their slogans by chanting, "The HDP won't be silenced."

"They are chanting slogans in exchange for money. You can't silence the HDP," said HDP deputy Nusrettin Maçin.

The group then tried to attack HDP deputies, prompting MP Hüseyin Kaçmaz to speak to the police chief. A person from the group then tried to attack Kaçmaz.

The assailant was taken away by police, but the group continued its aggressive acts without police intervention.

While police officers asked Kaçmaz to enter the courtroom, the deputy slammed the officials for not preventing the group's violent acts.

"You have to get them out. How can they stage these acts in a public building?" Kaçmaz asked.

Another HDP deputy, Garo Paylan, also slammed the lack of security measures.

"Deputies are being attacked at a courthouse. Will you make a trial like this?" he asked.

Scores of HDP politicians are being tried in the trial into the Kobane protests, which was when protesters flooded streets in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast in early October 2014, outraged over the Turkish government’s inaction in protecting Syrian Kurds as ISIS besieged Kobane, just across the Syrian border.

A total of 37 people died during the protests, and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) blames all of them on the HDP.