Dramatic footage from Turkey: opposition member stabbed in the middle of the street | Watch

Turkish parliament member Melih Meriç was stabbed during a street confrontation in Gaziantep. He was wounded in the abdomen, underwent emergency surgery, and his condition is good. The main suspect, Seydi Ahmet Keles, was arrested along with four others. The background to the confrontation may be a dispute over an appointment in the local party branch.

Turkish parliament member Melih Meriç, representative of the city of Gaziantep from the YENİ Parti ("New Party"), was stabbed last night (Wednesday) during a violent street confrontation in the Karataş neighborhood of Şahinbey district in Gaziantep. Meriç was wounded in the abdomen, taken to Gaziantep City Hospital, and underwent emergency surgery. Initially, it was reported that his life was in danger, but after the surgery, Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber stated that the procedure was successful and that the parliament member's condition is good with no further danger to his life. The Turkish police identified the main suspect as Seydi Ahmet Keles, who previously served as head of the Republican People's Party (CHP) branch in the Oğuzeli district. According to Turkish media, Keles recently left the CHP and announced his joining the YENİ Parti. Some reports claimed that the background to the confrontation was a dispute regarding an appointment in the local party branch, but the motive for the attack is still under investigation. After a manhunt, Keles was arrested, and four additional suspects were arrested as part of the investigation. The Gaziantep governor stated that the main suspect has 27 prior criminal records. The split between the CHP and the "New Party" was born from a severe crisis at the top of the Turkish opposition. Last May, a court annulled the results of the 2023 CHP convention, in which Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was ousted and Özgür Özel was elected in his place. Özel, who led the CHP to a major achievement in the 2024 local elections, refused to accept the move and in July withdrew along with 90 parliament members and established the YENİ Parti.