Thousands of people joined the funeral of Özcan Temel, 26, who was killed yesterday by individuals claiming to be members of the newly formed Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR). Temel was in a group of BDP supporters who were attacked by unknown people in the Petrol Neighborhood of Batman.

Temel leaves two small children.

Although no reasons for the attack were given, HÜDA-PAR is widely considered to be an offshoot of the Islamist Hizbullah movement which worked with the Turkish state in its fight against the PKK and other Kurdish activists. The organization, which also draws is membership from local Kurds, was founded with cooperation from the state and has been accused of committing many murders and acts of terror in the past.

In the attack a second BDP supporter, Mert Kasar, was severely injured and remains in hospital along with five others who were also injured during the attack.

Eyewitness Sedat Kaya told that executives and members of the HÜDA-PAR attacked them with kalashnikov weapons following a debate with BDP members who were performing electoral works in the Petrol neighborhood. They threatened us and prevented our works before opening fire on our group, Kaya said and remarked that police saw the group at the scene but didn't intervene them.