06.06.2026 11:51
A reaction to Rahmi Koç's "Kurdish woman"-themed anecdote told at a hospital opening in Izmir came from TBMM Administrative Officer and AK Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Av. İbrahim Eyyüpoğlu. In his statement, Eyyüpoğlu said, "I strongly condemn this inappropriate approach towards our Kurdish brothers. We will not tolerate any understanding that harms our nation's unity, brotherhood, and common future."
A joke told by Rahmi Koç, Honorary Chairman of Koç Holding, at a hospital opening in Izmir became a trending topic on social media. Rahmi Koç, who faced backlash for his remarks during the hospital visit, also received condemnation from TBMM Administrative Officer and AK Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Attorney İbrahim Eyyüpoğlu.
Rahmi Koç, attending the opening ceremony of a newly inaugurated hospital in Izmir, toured the examination rooms and patient wards with the guests after the official ceremony. During the visit, Koç told a joke to those around him, saying: "The doctor listened to the Kurdish woman's complaint. Then he said, 'Ma'am, go behind the curtain, undress, and get dressed.' The woman replied, 'Doctor, you undress first.'"
BACKLASH GREW LIKE AN AVALANCHE
Footage of the moment when the joke was told, shared on social media, quickly triggered a wave of backlash. Many users expressed that the remarks were discriminatory and hurtful, showing their reaction to Koç.
AK PARTY'S İBRAHİM EYYÜPOĞLU: IT IS UNACCEPTABLE
Following the rising voices on social media, one of the first harsh reactions from the political sphere came promptly. TBMM Administrative Officer and AK Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Attorney İbrahim Eyyüpoğlu issued a written statement on his official X (Twitter) account, strongly condemning Rahmi Koç. In his statement, Eyyüpoğlu said: "As a Kurdish brother, I cannot accept Rahmi Koç's remarks targeting Kurds and causing public outrage. We reject any discourse that insults, divides, and marginalizes the children of this country—Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Circassians—who have lived side by side for centuries. I strongly condemn this inappropriate approach toward our Kurdish brothers. We will not tolerate any mindset that harms our nation's unity, brotherhood, and shared future. Our path is not one of division, but of brotherhood; not of marginalization, but of uniting hearts."
Here is Eyyüpoğlu's post: