Öztürk’s figures
Journalist Kemal Öztürk gave a statement at İstanbul Anadolu Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı at the request of Samandağ Cumhuriyet Savcılığı as part of an investigation launched over allegations that he had called for a massacre targeting Syrian Arab Alevis. Öztürk said that he had not advocated violence or incited the public to hatred and hostility during his 30-year journalism career. He stated that, in the speech at the center of the investigation, he had described the Syrian state’s measured stance toward those seeking violence and conflict, and that his words had been distorted. Öztürk said he apologized to well-intentioned Alevis and Nusayris who had been upset because they had misunderstood his remarks or whose traumas had been triggered, and rejected the allegation that he had called for a massacre.
Remarks on a Terror-Free Türkiye
He also said that there was not a single case filed against him for insult or incitement to hatred and hostility. Stating that he had been subjected to insults, profanity and threats targeting him, his family, his children and his faith for 5 days, he announced that he had sought legal recourse against those responsible. He argued that the campaign targeted the “Terror-Free Türkiye and Terror-Free Region” process.