Ecevit's sister-in-law's funeral could not be held at the hospital.

The late former Prime Minister and former DSP Chairman Bülent Ecevit's 93-year-old sister-in-law Asude Aral passed away in the hospital. Arel's funeral has been unable to be taken out of the hospital for four days. Emrehan Halıcı, a former DSP Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Ecevit Foundation Board, who came to collect the body, said, "We couldn't get help from anyone to remove the body and take it. It's a very sad situation."

After Ecevit's death, Asude Aral began living in the house belonging to the Ecevit family in the Oran neighborhood with Rahşan Ecevit. After Rahşan Ecevit's death, Asude Aral, who lived alone in the house for a while, was admitted to a private care home on September 23, 2023, as her health deteriorated. On October 22, 2024, she was taken to Bilkent City Hospital as her health worsened. Asude Aral passed away on November 14.

FUNERAL CANNOT BE TAKEN

Prof. Dr. Halıcı, the President of the Ecevit Foundation, described the situation with the following words: "We wanted to take Asude Hanım's body and bury her. However, since we have no family ties, the hospital management did not hand over the body to us. Asude Aral was not only a donor of the Ecevit Foundation but also a member of our board until her death. Her siblings cannot come because they are abroad. They say that if the body is not collected within 15 days, it can be taken."

"THE BONES OF RAHŞAN HANIM AND BÜLENT BEY SHOULD NOT BE DISTURBED"

I served as a Member of Parliament for three terms and as the DSP Group Chairman. I fulfilled my duties in both good and bad times for the Ecevit family. However, we cannot seem to collect the trust at the hospital; this saddens me greatly. The deceased's body should not be kept in the hospital morgue any longer. The bones of Rahşan Hanım and Bülent Bey should not be disturbed."

CHP LEADER ÖZEL INTERVENES

Upon learning that Ecevit's sister-in-law's body could not be taken from the hospital, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel intervened. Özel said, "I am ready to do whatever is necessary."

Speaking to Sözcü, Özel said: "When I read your news, I called Emrehan Bey. He said that a consent letter was needed from Asude Hanım's relatives in the USA to collect the body; he was working on that. When I said I would do my best, he reminded me that the Ecevit family did not want any privileges. He said they were expecting more support from the hospital authorities. I will also closely follow the developments."