'Ekşi Sözlük' User Arrested After Praising New Zealand Mosque Attack

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A user of the social media platform Ekşi Sözlük (Sour Dictionary) has been arrested in Antalya province for praising the mosque attack in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15.

The person was arrested by the court after being detained upon the order of the Alanya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The state-run Anadolu Agency claimed that the person is the Ekşi Sözlük user who wrote the post that said, "I watched the video [of the attack] and wished that he would come to Turkey this Friday and clean up the mosques."

Statement by Ekşi Sözlük

Making a statement on the issue, Ekşi Sözlük said, "The unacceptable entry that was written under the title, 'Attack against mosque in New Zealand,' was noticed and deleted in minutes and the account of the user who wrote the entry has been closed on the ground of hate speech."

About the New Zealand attack

In Christchurch, New Zealand, an armed perpetrator opened fire in mosques during the time of the Friday prayers on March 15, at around 1.40 pm.

The attacker killed 49 people and injured 48 other.

The perpetrator who wore a military uniform and identified himself as "Brenton Tarrant," broadcasted the attack live on the internet.

Four suspects, one of them being a citizen of Australia, have been detained related to the attack. (HK/VK)