Republican People’s Party (CHP) members were stabbed on Saturday evening while trying to halt an attack on Democratic Peoples’ Party (HDP) election campaign booths on Büyükada, one of İstanbul ‘s Prince’s Islands, the Bianet news website reported.
Bülent Atmaca, a member of the CHP’s youth branch, said they saw around 20 people trying to burn HDP flags and banners, adding that some members of his group were stabbed when they decided to intervene.
Atmaca said the attackers had been gathered around the Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) booths.
The CHP’s Büyükada branch issued a statement on Facebook identifying the attackers as supporters of the “opposing view.”
The injured CHP members were taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
HDP member Neşe Erbil said their stands had been repeatedly attacked during the campaign in advance of presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24.
Erbil said police had treated the stabbed CHP members harshly, while being protective of the assaulters.
“The residents of Büyükada last night saw a group of young people come to the island and talk about an attack. People are coming from the mainland to attack HDP booths,” Erbil said.
During the last month, the opposition parties, including the CHP, İYİ (Good) Party, HDP and Felicity Party (SP), have been subjected to several attacks by the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) ally, the MHP, or other politically affiliated groups.
