25.04.2026 08:14
The first comment from CHP Chairman Özgür Özel came regarding the protest by the CHP provincial administration in Gaziantep, who turned their backs on a children's mehteran team performing during the April 23 celebrations. Özel said, 'I didn't see anything, but it must be either a misunderstanding or a wrong angle; otherwise, no one in our party would turn their back on the mehter.'
The 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Day and the 106th anniversary of the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly were celebrated with enthusiasm in Gaziantep, as in all corners of Turkey. The celebrations were marked by a protest from the Republican People's Party (CHP) Provincial Chairman Vakkas Acar and the provincial administration.
CHP MEMBERS TURN THEIR BACKS ON CHILDREN
The CHP administration protested the performance by turning their backs during a show by a mehter team consisting of young students. Explaining the reasons for the protest, CHP Provincial Chairman Vakkas Acar said, 'On April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day, a day when sovereignty was taken from the palace and given to the nation, we protest that our children are still being encouraged toward this palace culture. We absolutely do not accept this. To show that we do not accept this, we did not watch and turned our backs on those pure, innocent children because we oppose this emulation they want to impose. We definitely reacted against the mehter team.'
ÖZEL: IT IS EITHER A MISUNDERSTANDING OR A WRONG ANGLE
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made the first comment on the incident. Speaking after the April 23 reception at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Özel said, 'The mehter is ours, Fatih is ours, Ulubatlı Hasan is ours, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is ours, İnönü is ours, Ecevit is ours. Anyone who disrespects these historical figures and their memories has no place in the eyes of this nation. I haven't seen anything, but it must be either a misunderstanding or a wrong angle; otherwise, no one turns their back on the mehter in our culture.'