Turkish Ruling Party Official and Relatives Killed in Batman Shooting

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a prominent figure within the local branch of Turkey‘s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Mehmet Dirik, was killed alongside his son and nephew in a handgun attack in Batman, a city located in southeastern Turkey. The incident was reported by Russia Today, citing Mehr News Agency.

The attack reportedly took place in a municipal cemetery in the Güneşkent neighborhood of Batman, according to the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet. Unidentified individuals or groups opened fire on Mehmet Dirik, his son Erhan, and his nephew Bekir, resulting in the immediate deaths of all three.

Following the incident, police forces secured the area, restricting access to and from the cemetery. Extensive investigations have been launched to uncover the details of the crime and identify the perpetrators. Turkish police are continuing search and inspection operations, utilizing surveillance camera footage and tracing the escape routes of suspects who fled the scene.

Mehmet Dirik, as a leadership member of the AKP in the region, had a notable presence in local media. He previously headed the party’s youth organization and served as the deputy mayor of Batman’s city center until March 2025. Although he had announced his resignation from the mayoral position earlier, he remained an active party member.

As of this moment, no official information regarding the potential motives behind the attack has been released, and preliminary investigations are ongoing.