Homes of Kurds and Alevis marked in İzmir

Red crosses were painted on the doors of 6 homes where Kurdish and Alevi families live in the Yamanlar neighborhood of Izmir’s Karsiyaka district.

Doors and walls of 6 homes that belong to Kurds and Alevis in the Yamanlar neighborhood of Izmir’s Karsiyaka district were marked with red crosses this morning. Neighborhood residents called the police upon discovery, but the police only wrote a report and painted over the marks.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Murat Cepni went to the neighborhood to visit the people.

Former HDP district administrator Huseyin Akgul said there are families from Maras and Alevi families in the neighborhood and continued: “This is targeting. We are a society, and they don’t want to see or accept that. The Alevis in this country have lived through these incidents for years. They try to intimidate us. 10 days ago, a group from the AKP came to pass flyers and ask for votes. We told them we don’t vote for the AKP. This is our most natural right. We protested them there, and then this happens. We don’t have any issue with anybody. We are here, and we are not afraid.”

HDP MP Murat Cepni said the perpetrators must be found at once and continued: “Whatever there is to do, should be done immediately. If  they don’t, if they sweep this incident under the rug, they will be part of this provocation.”