Ankara reacts sharply to Turkish flag incident in Nusaybin

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

MARDIN / TURKIYE — The removal of the Turkish flag along the Syrian border in the Nusaybin district of Mardin, following a DEM Party group meeting, has sparked fierce political backlash in Ankara and triggered a large-scale judicial investigation.

On January 20, a group gathered at Border Park to protest clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). During the demonstration, several individuals breached border fences and lowered the Turkish flag, prompting immediate condemnations from the highest levels of the Turkish state. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that those responsible would face justice, while MHP Leader Devlet Bahceli blamed the DEM Party leadership for the provocation. The Ministry of Justice announced that 14 people have been detained so far, with legal proceedings initiated against a total of 393 individuals.

Sharp messages from Ankara against perpetrators

During an AKP parliamentary group meeting, President Erdogan characterized the act as "treason," stating, "We will certainly find those dirty hands extended toward our flag and hold those traitors accountable." Erdogan noted that propaganda based on lies is being used to incite Kurdish citizens over developments in Syria, emphasizing the need to distinguish between terrorist organizations and Kurdish citizens while urging for national common sense.

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli described the events as "the gravest of provocations." Stating that the rhetoric used by DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakirhan intensified the atmosphere of provocation, Bahceli asserted that the party must decide whether to stand with terror or serve a future free of terrorism.

Investigation and judicial process

The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) labeled the incident an "organized provocation" and confirmed that an administrative investigation has been launched. MSB Spokesperson Zeki Aktürk stated that the perpetrators have been identified by relevant state institutions and necessary actions are being taken.

Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc provided details on the ongoing legal actions, confirming that 35 individuals have already been remanded in custody. Efforts to identify the specific individual who lowered the flag are ongoing, and the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices in Mardin and Nusaybin continue to conduct a meticulous investigation into the provocations.

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Source : BBC