14.01.2026 22:03
The reaction of the opposition to the statements made by AK Party Group Deputy Chair Leyla Şahin Usta regarding Alevis continued today in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. While the CHP and DEM Party called for an apology, the AK Party claimed that Usta's words were distorted. As the debate escalated, a break was called in the General Assembly. Usta stated that she did not use discriminatory language and did not apologize.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT) General Assembly convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan.
While the section for off-agenda speeches was ongoing in the General Assembly, CHP Ankara Deputy Aliye Timisi Ersever took the floor and called on AK Party Group Deputy Chair Leyla Şahin Usta, saying, "We are equal citizens in this country, whether Alevi, Sunni, Turkish, or Kurdish. This Assembly is the embodiment of that equality. This podium is not for discrimination, but for the will of the nation. The language established here today not only poisons today but also wounds the future. Therefore, the Group Deputy Chair must openly apologize from this podium for these discriminatory statements made in the Assembly, which have caused a justified uproar in society. Otherwise, these words will go down in history as a dark stain on our brotherhood," she said.
"ALEVIS EXPECT AN APOLOGY FROM LEYLA ŞAHİN USTA"
AK Party Group Deputy Chair Bahadır Nahit Yenişehirlioğlu read Usta's words again in the General Assembly. During this time, there were reactions from the CHP benches. DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit also took the floor to express her objection. While altercations occurred in the General Assembly, CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır stated that an apology was necessary, saying, "In this country, investigations are coming over a cartoon, arrests are happening. There is no reaction from Leyla Hanım's party either. What is the Group Deputy Chair defending? She does not read the sentence she said; after speaking, she reads her nonsense. 'No, sir, I made a mistake, I said it wrong; I hurt millions of Alevi citizens, I apologize,' you should say this much. Do not apologize on her behalf, you are not obliged to defend her, you are not obliged to be complicit in her mistake. Let her come out and apologize; I will go and shake her hand first, I promise," he said.
"THE WORDS SAID HAVE BEEN DISTORTED, TWEEZED"
AK Party Group Deputy Chair Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu, who stated that he did not apologize on behalf of Usta, said, "We have never been among those who legitimize this oppression with another oppression, but we see that the issue is being detached from the ground of truth and turned into the material of political polemics. The words spoken have been distorted, tweezed, taken out of context, and deliberately interpreted to mean something else. I clearly state this; no member of the AK Party has an understanding that sees our Alevi citizens outside of Islam. Such an approach does not exist in our political tradition or in our vision of civilization, but to take this situation and bring it to the point of 'the AK Party legitimizes the Alevi massacre' is a serious accusation and a clear distortion," he evaluated.
"THE WORDS HE HAS SAID ARE TROUBLESOME"
Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan stated, "Mr. Yenişehirlioğlu; I think there is a need for an explanation from Ms. Leyla Usta. The words she has said regarding the massacre of Alevi people are troublesome, in line with the statements made by both groups. Therefore, there is a request for an apology from Ms. Usta from the opposition. Thus, we do not know whether she will make a new statement or not, but there is such a request, and it would be good if you could convey it to her. Let's leave this issue here for now, and we would appreciate it if you could also convey that an explanation is awaited from her," she expressed.
As discussions continued among the deputies in the General Assembly, Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan announced a 5-minute break in the session.
"THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE IS YOU"
After the break, the General Assembly reconvened. AK Party Group Deputy Chair Leyla Şahin Usta took the floor and stated that a lynching campaign had been conducted against her for days, saying, "We do not distinguish Alevi from Muslim. Alevi people are also Muslims; I have repeatedly said that I include all of them when Muslims are being massacred," in response to shouts of "Apologize" from the deputy benches, she said, "The one who needs to apologize is you. You are the ones who committed a massacre in Dersim, taking the lives of dozens of Alevi people. You are the ones who, when the time comes, support the PKK terrorist organization, killing all Kurds and Alevi people. The one who needs to apologize is you. What I said is very clear and evident. I say; give up this language of division."
SECOND BREAK ANNOUNCED
DEM Party's Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and CHP's Ali Mahir Başarır expressed that their requests for an apology were not met and continued their objections. As discussions continued among the deputies, Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan announced a 10-minute break in the session. After the break, the General Assembly reconvened. The group proposals of the political parties are being discussed in the General Assembly.