24.03.2025 14:51
The "cotton candy" incident that caused a crisis between Mansur Yavaş and the members of the DEM Party has also involved Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Yerlikaya stated that he is proud of police officer Sinan Baydı, who played a leading role in the footage that emerged after the police assisted a disabled individual, and Ali Talha Balbal.
Speaking to the crowd gathered for Ekrem İmamoğlu in Saraçhane, Istanbul, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş said, "Yesterday, while flags that I consider to be rags were waved somewhere in the East, I do not find it right that the police were giving cotton candy to those going to that rally. We expect the security forces to also offer cotton candy to the young people here."
ONE-WORD REACTION FROM BULDA
Yavaş's statements to the crowd ignited a new debate, and a reaction came from DEM Party Van MP Pervin Buldan, who filed a criminal complaint against Yavaş. Sharing images related to the speech on her X account, Buldan used the term "Fascist."
APOLOGIZED SPECIFICALLY
After Yavaş's statements that angered DEM Party members, CHP leader Özgür Özel, who spoke in the same square a day later, said, "Whoever has hurt someone with a word they said should seek forgiveness on behalf of the party's General Chairman. I once again celebrate the Newroz of all my Kurdish brothers."
"During this Newroz week, in the hope of peace, brotherhood, and the new year, Newroz was celebrated today in Istanbul. Today, I heard some minor grievances and heartbreaks from the area where Newroz is celebrated. I need to say this from here to there. We have talked a lot from this podium, in this square for five days. No words are without mistakes. Whoever has spoken from this podium and hurt someone with their words should seek forgiveness on behalf of the party's General Chairman. I once again celebrate the Newroz of all my Kurdish brothers. I also greet Selahattin Demirtaş, who is lying in Edirne and was the Co-Chair of his party when he was first placed there."
THE STORY OF THE INCIDENT
Felat Bozarslan, President of the Southeastern Journalists Association, made a post on X titled "What is the 'cotton candy' issue?" explaining the essence of the incident. Bozarslan said, "Let me explain the cotton candy incident that has troubled Mansur Yavaş. First of all, the incident is not an organization of the police; it is a completely spontaneous situation. Here’s what happened: A police officer on duty at the Newroz celebration in Cizre sees a disabled cotton candy seller. The police officer buys all the cotton candy so that our disabled brother does not get too tired and distributes it to the children there. The disabled cotton candy seller is happy. The children who receive the cotton candy are happy. Is the police officer happy? The only unhappy one is Mansur Yavaş. Why? They want dark figures with ski masks to turn the streets of Cizre into hell for our children, just like in the 90s," he said.
MINISTER YERLİKAYA: YOU ONCE AGAIN SHOWED THE CONSCIENCE OF OUR POLICE
Minister Yerlikaya shared a video on his social media account showing the moments of police officers Sinan Baydı and Ali Talha Balbal, who bought all the cotton candy to help the disabled individual selling cotton candy during the Newroz celebrations in Cizre. In his post, Minister Yerlikaya stated:
"The help that our two police officers, Sinan Baydı and Ali Talha Balbal, provided to our disabled brother Barış, who was selling cotton candy during the Newroz celebrations in Cizre, moved us all. They bought all the cotton candy and distributed it to the children around. Sinan and Ali Talha, I am proud of you. On these blessed days, you not only made Barış happy; you also once again showed the conscience and nobility of our police."
DENIAL FROM DMM
The Communication Presidency's Disinformation Combat Center made a statement on social media regarding the claim that "the police distributed cotton candy to those attending the Newroz celebrations in Cizre."
In the statement, it was said, "The claim that 'the police distributed cotton candy to those attending the Newroz celebrations in Cizre,' which appeared in some media outlets and was shared on social media, contains manipulation."
The statement mentioned that a police officer on duty tried to help a disabled cotton candy seller during the Newroz celebrations in Cizre, stating, "The police officer bought the products from the cotton candy seller so that he would not get tired and distributed them to the children around."
The statement continued with the following remarks:
"The good-natured individual behavior of the police officer on duty has been distorted by being taken out of context. Do not trust baseless claims aimed at targeting law enforcement and manipulating public opinion."