On World Peace Day, 1 September, Britain’s Alevi Federation, Democratic Power Union and the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP – British section) issued a joint press statement.

They stated that democratic organisations have to work together to oppose the regime in Turkey that is attacking Kurds, socialists, democrats and revolutionaries.

Fırat Kurtal, TİP’s central committee representative, spoke about the latest attack on its deputy, Barış Atay, in Turkey: “This attack on our comrade, Barış Atay, is definitely an organised attack which happened right after the Minister of the Interior, Süleyman Soylu, targeted our deputy. We know that he has done that before. He targets people and threatens them. Fascists may attack us but we will win, eventually, through solidarity”.

What happened?

TİP deputy, Barış Atay, was attacked early on 31 August in Kadıköy by ‘unidentified assailants’ following the Interior Minister’s comments targeting him.

Barış Atay had criticized the minister over the release of specialized sergeant Musa Orhan, who faces charges of raping a Kurdish woman. Atay accused the minister of protecting the rapist. In response, the Interior Minister stated that he doesn’t protect rapists, but that Atay is a rapist.

After this tweet from Soylu, Atay was attacked by five people in Kadıköy. Atay is recovering from his injuries.