Killing of 15-year-old boy by PKK triggers anger in society, political parties

ISTANBUL

The killing of a 15-year-old boy by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Black Sea province of Trabzon on Aug. 11 has been condemned across Turkish society and political parties.Eren Bülbül was targeted by PKK militants in Trabzon’s Maçka district after he informed the security forces about a PKK act that he witnessed.Bülbül had gone to inform the security forces about a group of militants he saw entering a house to steal provisions. He was then shot by PKK militants while he was returning from showing security officials the suspicious house.Gendarmerie Sergeant Ferhat Gedik, 41, was injured in the same incident and later also died.The killing of Bülbül stirred anger and solidarity in Turkish society and across political parties.The Trabzon governor’s office said Eren’s funeral would be held in the Köprüyanı neighborhood on Aug. 12 after prayers at Maçka Central Mosque.Locals hung Turkish flags from windows and balconies to mark the teenager’s death and a poster of Eren was hung outside the town hall with the words: “Eren Bülbül, Maçka will never forget you. Our martyrs rest in peace.”Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Işık visited Bülbül’s family and expressed his condolences for their loss.The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader also condemned the attack and expressed his condolences via his Twitter official account.“You're traitor enough to shoot a 15-year-old boy. I wish mercy for Eren Bülbül and Ferhat Gedik who have been killed in the terrorist attack,” he wrote.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli also condemned the killing of Bülbül via MHP’s official twitter account.

“Look Eren! Millions of people say that #Ereniyikivarsın,” Bahçeli wrote.

“We have to find and destroy the terrorists who have leashes on their necks in where they have been hiding,” he stated.



The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Serpil Kemalbay issued a written statement for killing of Bülbül.



“Get drawn into conflicting atmosphere of a 15-year-old boy is unacceptable. We condemn those who was responsible for the loss of Eren Bülbül's life,” she stated.



Meanwhile, Trabzonspor football club also condemned the attack via its official Twitter account.‘Eren Bülbül was only 16 years old. We curse terrorism,” stated in the post.Moreover, Bülbül’s latest heartbreaking tweet was shared number of times by Turkish social media users.He had wrote that ‘no one says that so glad I have you Eren” via his twitter account.Following his death, Turkish social media users started to post their tweets with #iyikivarsıneren (so glad to have you Eren) hashtag.Funeral ceremony of Bülbül was held after prayers at Maçka Central Mosque. Family members of Bülbül and number of locals participated the funeral. Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu visited family of Bülbül and expressed his condolences before the funeral ceremony.Trabzon Governor Yücel Yavuz, Giresun Governor Harun Sarıfakoğlu, rıling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies Ayşe Sula Köseoğlu, Adnan Günnar, Cemal Öztürk, and CHP deputy Haluk Pekşen also participated the funeral ceremony.