Former ruling party deputy arrested, attacked with eggs

Fırat Alkaç ISTANBUL

Former AKP deputy Feyzi İşbaşaran was first attacked with eggs by a group of protesters while leaving the police station, and was later hit in the face. DHA Photo

Former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Feyzi İşbaşaran, who has been arrested on allegations of “insulting the president,” was punched in the face and attacked with eggs in two separate protests against him in Istanbul on Dec. 8.

İşbaşaran was detained in the hotel where he was staying early on Dec. 8, upon a court ruling, and was first attacked with eggs by a group of protesters while leaving the police station. He was later hit in the face by a small group of assailants in front of the courthouse, where he was sent upon a demand to be arrested.

İşbaşaran, who was an AKP deputy from Turkey’s eastern province of Elazığ, resigned from the party in 2009, after being sent to the party’s disciplinary board for getting into a verbal quarrel with police.

The Istanbul court ruled to arrest İşbaşaran for allegations of “insulting the president” via Twitter on Dec. 8.

The group, who attacked İşbaşaran with eggs in front of the police station, held banners reading “We are with you Erdoğan” and “Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a man of the public, who are you?”

AKP deputy Metin Külünk, who was with the group of protesters, said they respected people’s criticism, but "threats and defamation under the scope of freedom could not be accepted."

“This nation looks after the leader it chose. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the president, who the nation chose,” said Külünk.