Members of the Turkish opposition reported attacks on election monitors in Istanbul and the southeastern part of the country during the presidential elections. The chairman of the electoral council has previously said that the polls are proceeding smoothly for now.
Ali Seker, a member of parliament from the main opposition CHP party, told Halk TV on Sunday that he and opposition pollsters were attacked by a group after they complained of irregularities in a village in Turkey’s southeastern Sanliurfa province . CHP faction leader Ozgur Ozel said election observers had been beaten and their phones destroyed.
He called on the authorities to ensure security around the election. According to the Interior Ministry, more than 600,000 members of the police and other institutions are responsible for security.
Attacks on the opposition
According to media reports, there have also been incidents in Istanbul. Opposition members were allegedly attacked there in two districts. These reports cannot be independently verified either.
In the first round of presidential elections two weeks ago, incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan narrowly missed an outright majority. Polls show he has an advantage over his opponent, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Elections are generally considered free, but not fair. International election observers criticized the government’s excessive media presence after the first round.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
