Europe18 August, 20262 min read
Melih Meriç Stabbed in Gaziantep After Naming Attacker Seydi Ahmet Keleş
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
New Party deputy Melih Meriç stabbed in Gaziantep by Seydi Ahmet Keleş, ex-CHP district chair. Attack in Şahinbey district; Meriç underwent emergency surgery.
Stabbing in Gaziantep
Turkish New Party deputy Melih Meriç was stabbed in the Şahinbey district of Gaziantep, and he was taken to Gaziantep City Hospital where he underwent surgery after the attack. Haberler reported that Meriç, while on a stretcher, told police officers the name of the attacker as "Seydi Ahmet Keleş".
Türkiye Today said the perpetrator, identified as S.A.K. and a former chairman of the CHP's Oğuzeli district branch, attacked Meriç in the Akkent neighborhood in the central Sahinbey district. Hürriyet Daily News placed the attack in the Karataş neighborhood of Şahinbey district and said emergency teams took Meriç, who represents Gaziantep in parliament, to Gaziantep City Hospital.
Officials and political voices
Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber said authorities were following the case closely and told Anadolu Agency, "We are following the matter closely. I hope we will see our deputy among us again soon."
Bianet reported that Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş condemned the attack, saying, "Violence can have no justification, excuse or legitimacy."
Hürriyet Daily News also quoted Kurtulmuş condemning the stabbing and said parliament would follow the investigation until the attack was fully clarified and those responsible were brought to justice.
Türkiye Today added that Justice Minister Akin Gurlek condemned the assault on social media as a "vile attack" and said the Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had immediately opened a criminal investigation.
Condition, investigation, and context
Bianet said Meriç underwent surgery at Gaziantep City Hospital after being stabbed in the Şahinbey district, and it quoted Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulaşan saying, "His condition is currently stable."
Haberler reported that Meriç was taken into surgery after the attack and that the incident occurred in front of a business in the Akkent neighborhood.
Türkiye Today said Ceber expected investigators to apprehend the suspect shortly and noted he had 27 prior criminal records, while also saying the motive for the confrontation remained unclear.
Bianet said the attack came amid a split in the CHP, Turkey’s oldest political party, and it described the New Party as founded by Özgür Özel after he was removed as CHP leader by a court ruling in May.