Thousands gather in Ankara to support CHP leader after ‘bullet’ incident

ANKARA

Thousands of supporters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) gathered in front of the headquarters of the party in Ankara on June 11 to back leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was subject to attacks and protests during an appearance at the funerals of police officers killed in recent terror attacks.

Kıılçdaorğlu said in an address to the crowd that mosques and funerals were not the right place for politics.

“We are in the holy month [of Ramadan]. Those who seek provocations and insult you when you go to a funeral are not real Muslims at all. They do not know about Islam or love for the people,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, naming those who had attacked him as “jackals.”

During a funeral for police victims of a June 7 attack in central Istanbul, one man threw a bullet at him. 

Kılıçdaroğlu has also faced other protests at recent funerals, with one throwing eggs at him.

On June 9, Kılıçdaorğlu lashed out at prosecutors and law enforcement officers for releasing four suspects after the bullet incident. “Everybody knows that throwing a bullet is a death threat,’ he said.

During a rally in front of the CHP building on June 11, a group tried to march to the Istanbul headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to leave a black wreath in protest. Police dispersed the crowd, using tear gas.

The CHP’s march came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he would “leave it to the nation” to give “his lesson” to Kılıçdaroğlu after the latter said he visited patients and prisoners “without discrimination.”