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Opposition leader Ozgur Ozel, head of Türkiye's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), was physically assaulted Sunday while attending a funeral ceremony for late parliamentarian Sirri Sureyya Onder at Istanbul's Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM)
The assault occurred as Ozel was exiting the building with his security detail. An unidentified man approached the CHP leader and struck him in the head with his fist, a moment that was captured on camera..
Security personnel quickly subdued the attacker, who was later taken away in an ambulance, according to eyewitnesses. The assailant was restrained by Ozel's bodyguards immediately after the attack.
CHP Diyarbakir Representative Zengin Tanrikulu condemned the attack in strong terms, calling the perpetrator "a shameless, vile provocateur" who reportedly described himself as "an Ottoman child."
Despite the assault, Ozel did not appear to sustain serious injuries. Turkish media outlet Sozcu's reporter Meral Danyildiz, who was present at the scene, noted that while Ozel was seen holding his head after the attack, there were no visible wounds on his face.
The CHP leader was escorted away from the area amid jeers directed at the attacker.
The incident occurred during funeral proceedings for Sirri Sureyya Onder, a vice speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and DEM Party Istanbul deputy who passed away on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Ozel had spoken to reporters about Onder's passing, saying, "This is a sorrowful day. We extend our condolences to both his family and the DEM Party family. We have lost a very important figure at a time when he was much needed, when we all needed him desperately."
Ozel had previously issued a statement honoring Onder, noting that "We witness that he spent his life on the path of peace, even though he was unjustly imprisoned and suffered oppression."
The attack comes amid a tense political climate in Türkiye, where the CHP, under Ozel's leadership since November 2023, serves as the main opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
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