Disability advocate attacked by municipal officer, officer suspended

An incident captured on video in Afyonkarahisar has led to the suspension of a municipal officer. The footage shows the officer physically assaulting Hüseyin Saka, a 40-year-old man with a mental disability who was selling cotton candy on the street.

The confrontation began when municipal officers warned Saka not to sell his products. Saka reportedly reacted negatively to the warning, escalating the situation. During the ensuing scuffle, one officer repeatedly kicked and punched Saka. The officer then struck Saka on the neck with a water bottle.

Other officers attempted to remove Saka from the area, while another intervened to stop the assault. Bystanders stepped in to end the altercation. The disturbing video of the incident quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread criticism.

In response to the public backlash, the Afyonkarahisar Municipality issued a statement. The municipality confirmed that an administrative investigation had been initiated against the officer involved. As a result, the officer has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.