Compensation money from BDP deputy’s slap goes to students

ŞIRNAK – Doğan News Agency

Peace and Democracy Party Istanbul deputy Sebahat Tuncel (C) was fined 36,720 Turkish Liras for slapping Murat Çetiner. DHA photo

A police chief in Turkey’s southeastern province of Şırnak has distributed books to children in the city with the first payment of the compensation he received from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Istanbul deputy Sebahat Tuncel who slapped him during a protest in 2011.

Tuncel was fined 36,720 Turkish Liras, to be paid in 14 installments on easy terms, for slapping Murat Çetiner when he ordered the use of pressurized water against peaceful protesters including Tuncel herself in March 2011.

After Nevruz celebrations, marking the arrival of spring, 2,000 people sought to march to a “Peace Tent,” but were met with teargas and pressurized water from police forces. An altercation broke out during which Tuncel slapped police captain Murat Çetiner.

Following the incident, Tuncel drew harsh criticism from politicians and public and Çetiner filed a lawsuit against deputy Tuncel in Silopi district court. The court found Tuncel guilty and ordered compensation.

 “Unfortunately we lived an unpleasant incident and I took the issue to the justice which made its decision […] I want Şırnak to be remembered with education,” Çetiner said while Tuncel commented from her twitter account that she hoped Çetiner would use the next payment for the mother tongue language of children in Şırnak, which is Kurdish.

“Assimilation is a crime against humanity, I do not want be a part of assimilation policies even if in indirect ways,” Tuncel said.