Those keeping rapist soldier on their agenda aim to hide what's going on within HDP, PKK: Interior minister

Duvar English

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has said that those keeping a specialized sergeant arrested over raping a woman on their agenda aim to hide what's going on within the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Specialized sergeant Musa Orhan was arrested on Aug. 19 following public outrage over the death of İpek Er, who died on Aug. 18 a month after committing suicide because of Orhan's sexual assault.

Despite Er's statements on the rape, Orhan was released by a court in the southeastern province of Siirt.

Turkish court arrests specialized sergeant on rape charges following public outrage

Soylu on Aug. 20 said that those who slammed the judiciary for not arresting the soldier aim to hide what "the HDP lawmaker and the PKK militants have done," referring to HDP deputy Mensur Işık, who was suspended from the party over violence against women allegations.

"We don't give credit to violence or rape. No to both of them!" Soylu told daily Hürriyet.

Soylu also claimed that Orhan was suspended one month ago and the expulsion works were ongoing.

Saying that the "incident needs to be handled thoroughly," Soylu noted that he believes the judiciary will do what's necessary.