04.09.2026 17:01
The statement regarding the images of former Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gökçek, who became a public topic for entering the courthouse with gum in his mouth for his testimony at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, came from his son Osman Gökçek. Osman Gökçek drew attention to his father's health condition, saying, 'Due to his condition, he uses gum and chewing tablets from time to time to relieve the dry mouth he experiences.'
Osman Gökçek, the son of Melih Gökçek, has made a statement regarding the images of his father arriving at Ankara Courthouse with gum in his mouth to give a statement as a "suspect." Gökçek stated that his father, due to his diabetes, sometimes uses gum and chewing tablets to relieve dry mouth, and noted that no such situation occurred while he was giving his statement to the prosecutor.
"I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT THE NEWS THAT IT CONSTITUTED DISRESPECT"
After the images recorded by press members at the courthouse entrance, Osman Gökçek made a post on his social media account X, saying, "I would like to correct an issue regarding the news that my father İbrahim Melih Gökçek had gum in his mouth while going to the courthouse to give a statement, and that this constituted disrespect."
Emphasizing his father's chronic illness, Gökçek said, "As is known, he is diabetic," stating that the images reflected on the screen were entirely due to this reason, and added, "The reason for the situation in the images is entirely this."
"SUCH A SITUATION WAS ALREADY IMPOSSIBLE WHILE HE WAS GIVING HIS STATEMENT"
In his statement, Osman Gökçek argued that no disrespect was shown to judicial authorities and said regarding the situation during the official statement process, "Moreover, such a situation was already impossible while he was giving his statement to the esteemed prosecutor." Gökçek concluded his message with the words, "I feel the need to make this statement in order to inform the public correctly."