18.08.2026 21:50
Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber, who received information about the health condition of New Party Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç, who was attacked with a knife and is being treated in the hospital, said, 'Thank God, our deputy's condition is good.' Regarding the attacker, Çeber stated, 'The person is a known individual, a former district chair of one of our political parties in Oğuzeli. Hopefully, our security forces will apprehend him soon. In other words, the person has been identified, and we know the region he fled to. We think we will catch him shortly.'
Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber announced that the health condition of New Party Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç, who was attacked with a knife, is good.
GOVERNOR ÇEBER RECEIVED INFORMATION AT THE HOSPITAL ABOUT MERİÇ'S HEALTH CONDITION
New Party Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç was attacked in the İbni Sina neighborhood of Şahinbey district. According to the claim, after arguing with S.A.K., the former CHP Oğuzeli district chair, Meriç was subjected to a knife attack by the individual. After the incident, the injured deputy Melih Meriç was taken to Gaziantep City Hospital following initial intervention by health teams at the scene. It was learned that Meriç, who was stabbed in the abdominal area, was taken into surgery at the hospital, while Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber also came to the hospital and received information about Meriç's condition from the hospital administration.
"OUR DEPUTY'S CONDITION IS FINE, THANK GOD"
Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber, providing information about the latest condition of Deputy Melih Meriç, said the following: "First, let me start with the good news. Our deputy's condition is fine, thank God. His surgery was just completed. We followed it moment by moment. Our chief physician is also here with me and will provide technical details if needed. But about an hour and a half ago, while our deputy was again on the streets of our city, among the citizens, an individual approached him, and the event unfolded as a conversation that turned into an argument, after which the individual stabbed our deputy.
"THE SUSPECT IS IDENTIFIED, WE KNOW THE AREA HE FLED TO"
The individual is a known person, a former Oğuzeli district chair of one of our political parties; hopefully, our security forces will apprehend him soon. The suspect is identified, and we know the area he fled to. We believe we will catch him shortly, but our priority is of course our deputy's health. Thank God, he was quickly brought to our hospital. Our esteemed chief physician and health director made all arrangements immediately. He was quickly taken into surgery. There were some scenarios we feared; none of them happened, and he has recovered.
"OUR DEPUTY IS SOMEONE WE ALL LOVE, THE WHOLE CITY LOVES, VERY CHEERFUL, CONSTANTLY INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE"
During that process, our Speaker of Parliament Numan Kurtulmuş, our Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, and our Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu followed very closely. They spoke with the family. They received information from us. They are also monitoring moment by moment. We were all deeply saddened. Our deputy is someone we all love, the whole city loves, very cheerful, constantly interacting with people. Hopefully, with good health, he will return to his loved ones and, God willing, to serving our city very soon."
"WE DON'T KNOW THE REASON FOR THE INCIDENT"
Stating that efforts to capture the suspect are ongoing, Governor Çeber said, "We don't know the reason for the incident. But as I said, the individual is a former Oğuzeli district chair of a political party. Whatever they were arguing about, the footage shows first a conversation, then it turns into an argument. We will ask him when the individual is caught. When our deputy regains consciousness, they will explain the matter. But regardless of the issue, the outcome should never involve stabbing or injury, no matter who it is.
"AN INDIVIDUAL WITH 27 CRIMINAL RECORDS"
"As I said, we know the individual. He has 27 criminal records, and the vehicle he got off from and the route he took are identified. Our colleagues will apprehend him shortly using all technical, physical, and human resource means. All our teams are working in that area now. Thank God, there is no life-threatening risk. Our esteemed chief physician can explain that better."
CHIEF PHYSICIAN ULUŞAN: HIS CONDITION IS CURRENTLY STABLE
Gaziantep City Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulaşan said, "His condition is currently stable. A significant part of the surgery has been completed. There is an intestinal injury, which has been repaired. Final checks are being done now. His blood pressure is currently stable. The latest information we received is that the closure procedure has begun. We can say his condition is stable now."