Murder of Deniz Poyraz

Overview

On 17 June 2021, Deniz Poyraz, a 38-year-old member of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was killed inside the party's provincial headquarters in Konak, Izmir, an area that was under police surveillance at the time. In December 2022, the perpetrator was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment.

Background

The Turkish government had repeatedly accused the HDP of organizational ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling HDP politicians terrorists. The attack occurred while the HDP faced a closure case. According to reporting, the assailant had wanted to kill PKK militants for months, learned the location of the HDP headquarters in January 2021, stayed in nearby hotels beforehand, and purchased a Ruger pistol in May 2021 that he later used in the attack. HDP Izmir MP Serpil Kemalbay stated that police were present outside the party headquarters at the time of the assault.

The Victim

Deniz Poyraz was born in 1983 in Izmir, the eldest of nine siblings in a Kurdish family originally from Tavuklu village, Mardin. The family returned to Mardin shortly after her birth, where their home was reportedly raided multiple times, according to family members interviewed by the human rights media outlet Bianet. The family returned to Izmir when Poyraz was twelve. She later worked in the textile industry and as a secretary. At the time of the attack, she was volunteering at the HDP building, covering a shift for her mother, who had undergone hand surgery.

The Killing

The assailant entered the party headquarters in the morning. Authorities differed on the exact time of the shooting: the Governor's office estimated approximately 11:05 a.m., while MP Serpil Kemalbay stated 11:50 a.m. The assailant carried a Ruger pistol loaded with ten bullets, fired at an image of imprisoned HDP MP Sebahat Tuncel, and attempted to set the building on fire before killing Poyraz.

The Assailant

Turkish authorities identified the assailant as a former health worker. He had posted social media images showing himself armed in Syria, including in Manbij and Aleppo, during training with SADAT, a paramilitary organization with ties to the governing Justice and Development Party. Some images showed him making the sign of the Grey Wolves, affiliated with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). After his capture, he claimed no group affiliation and said he fired at random inside the building, attributing the attack to hatred of the PKK; he stated he would have killed more people had they been present.

Investigations and Trial

Surveillance footage from cameras in the neighborhood was reportedly erased the day after the attack. An autopsy confirmed Poyraz died from multiple gunshot wounds. The first trial hearing took place in December 2021; a later hearing was marked by gendarmerie violence against a relative of the victim and police use of tear gas on crowds outside. In December 2022, the assailant was convicted and sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment; his defense lawyers were absent from the final hearing after refusing a security check.

Reactions

The HDP blamed the government and Interior Ministry for the attack. Various political figures, including President Erdogan and opposition leaders, condemned the killing, while MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli called for an investigation into possible PKK responsibility and described the victim as linked to PKK recruitment.