A faculty member protesting against Israel was attacked by 10 individuals.

During the opening of Burger King held in the AVM located in the Central Bazaar District of Rize, lecturer Dr. Kemal Sağlam was attacked. Dr. Kemal Sağlam, a lecturer at Artvin Çoruh University’s Faculty of Arts and Design, who was conducting a protest against Israel, was taken to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital as a result of the attack.

It was learned that Sağlam, who was treated in the Emergency Department, had a broken nose and a ruptured eardrum. Sağlam, who had bruises on various parts of his body, received a report. Sağlam, who filed a complaint against the attackers, went to the police station to give a statement. Sağlam stated, "I saw the opening of the store while I was going to withdraw money. I shouted 'Down with Israel,' but the fanatics there, who are supporters of Israel, who want to eat the money of Israeli terrorism, who want to do business, who want to kill babies, attacked me," he expressed.

"WHAT HAPPENED BROKE MY HEART INTO PIECES"

Kemal Sağlam, in a statement regarding the attack, said: "I saw the opening of Burger King while withdrawing money and shouted 'Down with Israel.' The fanatics showing the Burger King there, the Israelis who want to kill babies, attacked me. They followed me all the way to the road, I was almost under the cars, they chased me, beat me, and ruptured my ears and nose. Ten people beat me at once, and then I took refuge in a vehicle, and they beat the driver along with me. These fanatics have become murderers. I had filed a complaint against them, but for such a thing to happen to me in a Muslim country; in Rize, it broke my heart into pieces. I leave all of them to Allah, may Allah also destroy them along with Israel, inshallah."

Along with AKP Provincial General Assembly President Ali İmran Büyük, former ANAP Rize MP Ahmet Kabil, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aziz Karaahmetoğlu, RTSO Assembly President Ahmet Arif Mete, owner of Altur Tourism Abdurahim Albayrak from Rize, İyidere Mayor Saffet Mete, Muradiye AKP Mayor Musa Süreyya Balcı, AKP Salarha Municipality President Hasan Kara, Rize Provincial Trade Director Osman Köseoğlu, and many managers and tradesmen attended the opening. The opening took place with prayers being recited. AKP Provincial General Assembly President Ali İmran Büyük sent a wreath to the opening.