Özgür Özel: I consider those insults to be directed at my own mother.

25.03.2025 08:10

The protests that took place in Saraçhane drew significant backlash as demonstrators directed insults towards President Erdoğan and his late mother. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel firmly rejected the derogatory statements, saying, "I consider those insults to be directed at my own mother." Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 43 suspects had been detained following the insults.

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In Istanbul, protests that began after the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19 continued in Saraçhane Square on its sixth night, with a significant development being a controversy over insults.

MINISTER YERLİKAYA: 43 PEOPLE DETAINED

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated in a post on his official X account, "I condemn the despicable insults directed at our President, his late mother, and his family after the demonstration that took place in Saraçhane this evening. What has been done is a vile attack that does not align with our national and spiritual values. Such indecency will never be tolerated. Our security forces have immediately initiated the necessary procedures," he said.

REACTIONS CAME IN RAPID SUCCESSION

Minister Yerlikaya announced that 43 people had been detained in connection with the incident, and efforts were ongoing to capture other suspects. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, and Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç also strongly condemned the insulting statements directed at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his family.

REJECTED INSULTING STATEMENTS IN A DEFINITE MANNER

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel also made a statement regarding the events on the social media platform X, reacting strongly to the insults directed at President Erdoğan's mother and family. Özel stated, "I consider those insults as directed at my own mother. We conduct our politics and objections with a clean language. Anyone who insults a politician's family, who curses, is not one of us.

It is unacceptable to confuse protest with insult. Cursing, especially cursing a family member, a mother, is absolutely unacceptable. I consider that curse as directed at my own mother. Let no one confuse those who insult with those who stand up for national will in Saraçhane, who want a democratic Turkey, and who conduct peaceful protests. No one should attempt to resist the rightful reaction of millions with a perception operation. Do not devalue this objection of the nation through the rudeness of a few ignorant individuals," he said.