Hate attack on bianet editor's family on parliamentary agenda

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Green Left Party Deputy Celal Fırat brought a recent hate attack targeting the family of bianet editor Ruken Tuncel to the attention of the parliament. Her sister Sinem Tuncel was reportedly subjected to physical assault.

On August 10, neighbors had used discriminatory language against Tuncel's sister and aunts, labeling them as "terrorists" and causing injury to her sister, Sinem Tuncel.

MP Fırat posed a question to Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya: "Have preventative measures been taken to ensure the safety of the Tuncel family following the attack on bianet editor Ruken Tuncel's family?"

Fırat's parliamentary question also referenced the recently published "Hate Crimes Based on Religion, Belief, or Non-Belief in Turkey 2022" report, which indicated that there were 36 hate crimes and incidents in Turkey in 2022. He highlighted the breakdown of these incidents based on targeted groups: Alevis 15, Christians 15, Jews 4, Yazidis 1, and Muslims 1.

"While these numbers may not fully reflect the true extent of the incidents due to underreporting and underrepresentation of hate crimes worldwide, the report aims to contribute to preventing hate crimes and addressing impunity associated with them," Fırat said.

He further noted, "Religion, belief, or non-belief-based hate crimes continue to be a significant issue in Turkey, posing a serious obstacle to social harmony. The legal framework and implementation in Turkey are currently ineffective in addressing these crimes, despite their detrimental impact on societal well-being." (HA/VK)