Nimet Ölmez
Mimar Serkan (Sufi) Kaya, owner of Colemêrg News and a journalist, has begun a hunger strike at his hideout, where he has been for two days due to death threats. Kaya reported receiving messages calling for "Death to Sufi."
Mimar Serkan (Sufi) Kaya, owner of Colemêrg News, has been in hiding for two days following death threats. The decision not to issue a mandate to Abdullah Zeydan, elected as the Co-Mayor of the Van Metropolitan Municipality for the Democracy and Peace Party (DEM), was protested on the evening of April 2 in Hakkari. Journalist Serkan Kaya, who was covering the news of the protests, has been receiving death threats for days. Kaya, who shared footage of AKP Provincial Chairman Zeydin Kaya firing a gun amidst a crowd, started receiving death threats after this publication.
Kaya on hunger strike
Kaya, attacked while trying to film the events, stated he was unable to perform his journalistic duties. Describing the challenging period of the last two days, Kaya said, "I constantly face threats and insults, just for being an oppositionist. In a small city like Hakkari, anything can happen to an opposing journalist. Especially during the election period, I am constantly attacked for not reporting like certain media outlets that only cover pro-government news. I can't do my job; I'm continuously obstructed. There were armed attacks on citizens expressing their democratic reactions on the streets. I filmed these as part of my journalistic duty."
Death messages sent to Sufi
Continuing his efforts to do his journalistic duty, Kaya shared: "I've been trapped in a house for two days, directly threatened with death by the brothers of Zeydin Kaya. I don't know what will happen to me the moment I leave. I can't go to my home or workplace. Slogans of 'Death to Sufi' and armed attacks have endangered my life. Despite being aware of my situation, neither the Governor nor Zeydin Kaya have contacted me. However, I will share the threatening messages from Kaya and other AKP provincial chairpersons and mayoral candidates and file a complaint against them. I declare that I will enter a hunger strike in this house where I stay until my safety is assured and I can return to my work."
During the protests, a group including the brothers of AKP Provincial Chairman Zeydin Kaya attacked young people at the demonstration with guns. Journalists trying to capture the events were nearly lynched.
Kaya: I have no security
Speaking about the events, journalist Kaya mentioned that he was threatened by associates of AKP's Kaya even before the incident. He noted that these threats continued and that he was threatened with death on the night of the incident, expressing concerns for his safety. Unable to pursue news due to the threats and having taken refuge in a house for two days, Kaya called for solidarity from all colleagues and civil society organizations in the city.
