[Hurriyet Daily News] The Republican People's Party (CHP) chair Kemal KılıçdaroÄŸlu has criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the violent assault targeting daily Hürriyet columnist Ahmet Hakan.With his deputies and two CHP MPs, KılıçdaroÄŸlu visited Hakan, who was injured in the attack, at the journalist's home in Istanbul's NiÅŸantaşı district on Oct. 3.
"His health is quite alright. He is in good spirits. We had a nice chat. I told him that not only me but hundreds of thousands of his readers are waiting for his columns," CHP chair told journalists after the visit.
Four men, arriving in a black Honda at 12:35 a.m. on Oct. 1, attacked Hakan in front of his home, leaving him with a broken nose and ribs before escaping.
They were later arrested. The AKP announced on Oct. 2 that three of the men were AKP members and that they were expelled.
"It is good that they are expelled from the party. I wish that MP could also be expelled after the first attack targeting daily Hürriyet," KılıçdaroÄŸlu said, referring to AKP MP Abdurrahim Boynukalın.
Hürriyet’s headquarters in Istanbul were attacked by pro-AKP protesters on Sept. 6, while Boynukalın was filmed threatening both Hakan and Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Sedat Ergin.
"I wish those who hurled death threats could face harsher criticism from the government. These did not happen and violence, in a way, was encouraged step by step," CHP leader added.
Hürriyet headquarters were pelted with stones by another club-swinging group of protesters in a fresh politically-motivated assault Sept. 8, after President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan and Prime Minister Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu failed to condemn the initial attack. A death threat targeting Hakan in a pro-AKP newspaper was also ignored.