Speaking to a newspaper, Avşar had said that she is the daughter of an ethnically mixed couple and lent support to the government's efforts to settle the Kurdish issue. After this interview, Bakırköy's chief public prosecutor launched an investigation against Avşar on charges of "inciting people to hatred and enmity."
Interior Minister Atalay spoke to the state-owned TRT 1 TV station about the democratic initiative. Responding to criticism concerning the obscure content of the initiative, Atalay said: "We are making public statements about the initiative; we are being clear about it. We have asserted that if the opposition demands it, we will make further explanations. We are ready to do so at any moment. If they want, we will go and explain it to them. There is no uncertainty in the background."
The interior minister also underlined that no bargaining was made in connection with the democratic initiative. "We have reiterated this. There are sensitivities about the unity and integrity of the state and about the official language. There is no bargaining," he said.
Atalay stressed that he believes that the initiative will further strengthen the bonds of the nation. "Turkey will grow thanks to this project. Citizens will unite with greater strength," he said. Maintaining that if the initiative had been launched at an earlier date, things would have been easier, Minister Atalay asserted that the initiative is important for fraternity and a powerful country and that they believe this will be achieved.
