An apology was not enough! Reactions to Rahmi Koç's 'anecdote' are growing like an avalanche.

06.06.2026 15:31

The controversy sparked by businessman Rahmi Koç's telling of a "Kurdish woman" joke is escalating. Despite an investigation being launched into Koç and an apology statement being issued, reactions have poured in successively from politicians, civil society representatives, and regional bar associations. While footage of former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım laughing at the joke has also been at the center of criticism, many figures have emphasized equal citizenship, women's honor, and social respect.

The joke told by Rahmi Koç, Honorary Chairman of Koç Holding, at the opening of the American Hospital in İzmir Balçova, about a "Kurdish woman," drew widespread backlash. The joke, which targeted female identity, patient privacy, and ethnic identity, quickly became a topic of discussion, prompting reactions from many figures and political circles. Former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, who was present and laughed at the joke alongside Koç, also became a target of criticism.

In the joke, Koç said: "The doctor listened to the Kurdish woman's complaint and said, 'Madam, go behind the curtain and undress.' The woman replied, 'Doctor, you undress first.'"

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED, APOLOGY ISSUED

Following the criticism, the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an ex officio investigation against Rahmi Koç on charges of "publicly insulting a segment of the public." After the investigation decision, Rahmi Koç apologized.

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BACKLASH CONTINUES: EQUAL CITIZENSHIP IS FUNDAMENTAL

Despite the apology, reactions against Koç did not subside. Some of the reactions are as follows:

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said, "Human dignity and equal citizenship are fundamental. No one should use expressions that create offensive and negative social perceptions based on gender, ethnic identity, or social status. Seeing our differences as richness and reinforcing the culture of living together in peace is a shared responsibility of everyone who has the will to strengthen our national unity and brotherhood."

GÜL: THE HONOR AND DIGNITY OF EVERY SEGMENT OF SOCIETY ARE SACRED

AK Party Group Deputy Chairman and Gaziantep MP Abdülhamit Gül stated, "We strongly reject the discriminatory, sexist, and degrading rhetoric targeting Kurdish women under the guise of 'humor' at a hospital opening. No hate speech produced based on ethnic origin, belief, or gender is acceptable. For us, the honor and dignity of every segment of society are sacred. There can be no justifiable excuse for these ugly and discriminatory approaches that directly target Kurds, damage their honor, and deeply wound us all. No element of hate that undermines social peace and our will to live together can ever be excused by hiding behind the veil of humor."

ŞAHİN: EVERY WOMAN IN THIS COUNTRY HAS EQUAL VALUE AND DIGNITY

Gaziantep MP Fatma Şahin said, "Regardless of intent, we do not accept any expression that undermines the honor and dignity of women under the guise of joke, humor, or comedy. Whether Turkish women, Kurdish women, or any other identity, every woman in this country has equal value and dignity. In this context, we thank our Minister of Justice, Mr. Akın Gürlek, for his statement on the matter. Words targeting women and using divisive language, especially based on ethnic identities, do not become innocent just because they are said under the guise of 'humor' or 'jokes.' On the contrary, such expressions are discourses that fuel social prejudices and harm the culture of respect."

EKMEN: IT IS DISRESPECT AND A GREAT UNFORTUNATE EVENT

DEVA Party Deputy Chairman and Mersin MP Mehmet Emin Ekmen stated: "It is disrespect and a great unfortunate event that, during an opening in İzmir right after a well-attended 100th-anniversary event in Ankara, those present, including especially Binali Yıldırım, accompanied Rahmi Koç's words targeting Kurdish women with laughter. A sincere apology is expected from Mr. Koç and Yıldırım."

YILDIRIM: EVEN IF IT'S A JOKE, IT SHOULD BE DECENT

AK Party Istanbul MP Adem Yıldırım said, "Even if it's a joke, it should be decent. Jokes are narratives of fine wit and humor aimed at making people think and entertain. If you insult and indecently offend a segment of our society through a joke, then we will step up and say stop to this indecency. For years, you insulted and vilified Muslim Arabs, Muslim Kurds, and even Muslim Turks to Arabs and Kurds who are also Muslim. Yet, despite this, you could not divide Turks, Kurds, and Arabs. Because our nation's insight always rejected this divisive language. What matters is not being wealthy but being moral; in short, being a decent person. Expressions targeting Kurdish women, belittling women, or making fun of any ethnic identity are unacceptable regardless of who says them. Turkey's unity is strengthened not by labeling people but by protecting the dignity of every citizen. The honor of our women and Kurdish citizens is a shared value of this nation. No one's origin, language, belief, or gender can be humiliated by being turned into material for a joke. Our political understanding is based not on divisive language but on respect, brotherhood, and human dignity. #RahmiKoçApologize."

BURHAN: POSITION AND WEALTH DO NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO INSULT KURDISH WOMEN

General Director of Millet News Agency and President of the Turkish Press Federation Sinan Burhan also stated: "Position and wealth do not give you the right to insult Kurdish women. AK Party General Secretary Eyyüp Kadir İnan condemned Rahmi Koç, who insulted Kurdish women at the Turkish Press Federation's program, saying 'We condemn this language.'"

JOINT STATEMENT FROM REGIONAL BAR ASSOCIATIONS: WE DEPLORE IT

Regional bar associations made a joint statement expressing their reaction. The statement said: "We deplore that the so-called joke told by a person named Rahmi Koç, containing degrading, sexist, and humiliating expressions targeting Kurdish women, was met with laughter by individuals including former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım in the public images. It is unacceptable for this narrative, which degrades Kurdish women based on both their female identity and ethnic affiliation, to be presented as 'humor.'"

In a period when social peace, equal citizenship, and brotherly law are being discussed; the fact that prejudices targeting Kurds and Kurdish women are circulated with such ease serves not to heal the wounds of the past but to deepen them.

Everyone in the hall, especially former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, should know that remaining silent in the face of words insulting the women of a people is one thing, but accompanying those words with laughter is another. Laughter is the strongest approval of the spoken word.

The behavior of Binali Yıldırım, who, himself being a Kurd, should have immediately shown the necessary reaction and objected to the insult given his state experience and representation, but instead supported it with his laughter, is also an example of unacceptable irresponsibility.

As Regional Bar Associations; we reject any kind of discriminatory language targeting women, peoples, and human dignity; we clearly condemn this attitude and the demeanor accompanying it, and we respectfully share with the public that we have filed a criminal complaint against the mentioned individuals.