‘Assassination plot’ against MP Garo Paylan: ‘Minorities always used as baits in Türkiye’

Source:BiaNet Date:20Aug2022

Two weeks ago, a former lawyer for the Alaattin Çakıcı, an ultranationalist figure convicted of leading a criminal gang, claimed to reveal an assassination plot against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Garo Paylan, Türkiye’s only Armenian MP.

Paylan was going to be assassinated in the parliament in 2016, but the plot was aborted at the last minute, according to the claims of Mehmet Sinan İnce.

Noting the recent attacks on Alevi leaders and places of worship, he (Garo Paylan) said, “In Türkiye, those who are in the position of being ‘others’ and their representatives live in great danger.

“Recently, there was an attack on Alevi institutions. The Kurdish people are constantly being attacked. An impression is being created that an attack could be carried out against me, a known representative of the Armenians.

“All of these arise from the power struggle within the state. We are heading to the elections, and there is a fight to gain power in Ankara. Minorities have always been used as ‘baits’ in the games of power within the state.