Turkey: Convicted Child Murderer Assaults Opposition Leader

A 66-year-old man, previously convicted of murdering his own children, violently attacked Özgür Özer, the president of Turkey’s Republican People’s Party (CHP). The assailant struck Mr. Özer in the head during an incident where witnesses reported him yelling, “I am a descendant of the Ottomans.” According to Turkey’s Ministry of Interior, this individual had been sentenced in the past not only for killing his children but also for injuring two others. Additionally, he was involved in thefts and threats. Despite his heavy criminal record, he was released on parole in 2020 under restrictive conditions. The attacker claimed that his actions were fueled by anger over being denied a food assistance card application by the CHP because he wasn’t a party member. He further stated that the party’s call for youth protests triggered his outburst.