13.03.2025 09:40
MHP leader Bahçeli recently referred to Öcalan as the "founding leader of the PKK" for the first time. Former AK Party MP Mehmet Metiner commented on Bahçeli's statement, saying, "Since we use the term 'leader' for Atatürk, shouldn't we be able to use the word 'leader'?" İYİ Party member Cenk Özatıcı reacted to Metiner's remarks, saying, "Whom are you comparing Mustafa Kemal Pasha to, my friend? I condemn you."
The statement made by MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli on his social media account, referring to the terrorist organization PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan as the 'founding leader of the PKK', drew attention. This expression led to a debate between former AK Party MP Mehmet Metiner and İYİ Party's Cenk Özatıcı.
In a program broadcasted on Ekol TV, former AK Party MP Mehmet Metiner defended Bahçeli's statement, citing Atatürk as an example, saying, "What is wrong with that? I mean, who is the founding leader of the PKK? Abdullah Öcalan. Since we call Atatürk a leader, are we not going to use the term 'leader' for others? Just because we say 'leader', are we going to say that exclusively for Atatürk and not use it for others?"
"CAN SUCH DISRESPECT EXIST?"
İYİ Party's Cenk Özatıcı reacted, saying, "You are comparing Mustafa Kemal Pasha with him, what are you saying for God's sake! Get a grip! You cannot use Abdullah Öcalan in the same sentence; I would forbid you. How can you use the founder of the Republic of Turkey and the murderer of 50,000 Turkish citizens in the same sentence as 'leader'?"
"YOU ARE QUESTIONING INTENTIONS THROUGH WORDS"
After the reaction, Metiner stated, "We are trying to bid farewell to a bloody issue in history. While there are very positive developments, we are here questioning intentions through words. This is not a good-natured approach."
"YOU ARE USING IT IN THE SAME SENTENCE"
Özatıcı responded to these words, saying, "You are the one being disrespectful, sir. You are using Mustafa Kemal Pasha and Öcalan in the same sentence as 'leader'; is there any greater disrespect than this? I will not tolerate that, let me tell you!"
MEHMET METİNER MADE A STATEMENT
After the program, Metiner made a statement regarding the reactions on social media, clarifying his words. In his statement, Metiner said:
This evening, in the program "Ekol Gündem," where I am a permanent guest on Ekol TV, our host asked me about the phrase "the founding leader of the PKK" used by the esteemed MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli for Öcalan. I said, "What Mr. Bahçeli said is true. Öcalan is the founding leader of the PKK. Technically, this is the case. We should not get hung up on words. We need to move beyond this."
As soon as I said this, a person representing a party responded in a manner that is not respectful, saying, "Öcalan is not a founding leader; he is a terrorist leader. You cannot present him as a peace ambassador." He suddenly brought the topic to Atatürk.
In response, I said, "Just because the term leader was used for Atatürk, are we not going to use the term leader for someone else? As a technical reality, Öcalan is also the founding leader of the PKK. To say otherwise is beyond disrespect towards the wise leader of Turkish nationalism."
It is very sad for the political institution that someone who claims I compared Atatürk with Öcalan has risen to the level of representing a party, even though I did not compare them at any point in my speech.
I only made a statement regarding the term leader. I stated that saying 'the founding leader of the PKK' technically expresses a reality, and that it is wrong to divert this to another context, and that it is disrespectful to question Mr. Bahçeli's nationalism and patriotism based on this expression.
The claim that I compared Atatürk with Öcalan in the same sentence is nothing but slander.
I can understand someone trying to politically benefit from Atatürk by bringing him into the discussion for no reason, but I condemn a political understanding that distorts the truth as a very bad example for democratic politics.