Threats Against Armenian MP Karol Paylan: ‘You Go Join the War, We’ll Fire One More Bullet’

Turkey's opposition, Kurdish-oriented People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Armenian MP Karol Paylan has commented on the large-scale military operations unfolding along the Armenia-Azerbaijan contact line. He accused the Turkish and Azerbaijani authorities of distorting the truth and targeting Armenians living in Turkey with hate speech.

This has been reported by ermenihaber.am.

Paylan's statements have provoked negative reactions among Turkish social media users and right-wing political figures. Meanwhile, the spokesman for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Omer Celik, claimed that his country would not allow individuals to threaten or persecute Turkish Armenian citizens on social media or any other platform. Celik characterized such acts as provocations that also tarnish Turkey’s reputation.

Despite the spokesman’s promises that do not correspond to reality, many are already issuing threats against the Armenian MP, labeling him as an enemy of Turkey. A Turkish user on Twitter, İsmail Oky, wrote: “I don't know if you're Garu (a nickname), or a clown, but while living in our country, you are betraying us. Even the air you breathe in this country should be cursed. While there is war in Armenia and 3000 PKK supporters are headed there (to Armenia), you should go join them, and we’ll fire one more bullet.”

Turkey's ruling AKP MP Ayşe Keşir also tweeted about Paylan’s posts, stating: “I think Karol Paylan has forgotten that he is a member of the Turkish Parliament.”

Recently, Omer Celik addressed the threats against Armenians in Turkey on Twitter, asserting: “We will continue to oppose these unjust and illegal acts,” which he described as provocations.