16.09.2025 14:00
President Erdoğan strongly reacted to the discriminatory statements directed at Alevi citizens based on the sectarian identity of former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Erdoğan stated, "I condemn these ugly, discriminatory statements against our Alevi citizens. I believe that the law will take necessary action, and the account for these provocations will be demanded in front of the judiciary."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who attended the Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League held in Doha, Qatar, answered journalists' questions on the plane on his way back to the country.
"I CONDEMN THE UGLY DISCOURSE TOWARDS OUR ALEVITE SOULS"
President Erdoğan stated, "Some individuals close to the current CHP administration targeted former party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on television and on social media accounts close to them. They made statements that are offensive, marginalizing, and include attacks on Alevi citizens based on Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's sectarian identity. In fact, some Alevi associations also made statements condemning these individuals. How do you evaluate this situation?" he responded with the following statements.
"I condemn these ugly, discriminatory discourses towards our Alevi souls. We are almost like flesh and nail with our Alevi citizens. We can never place them in a different category. One of the fundamental principles of our state is that all our citizens are equal regardless of religion, sect, ethnic origin, or identity. This is guaranteed by the constitution. Everyone must adhere to this principle.
"THE ACCOUNT WILL BE ASKED IN COURT"
All these statements are a manifestation of the distorted and pathological views of those who have seen our Alevi citizens as a reservoir of votes for years. I believe that the law will do what is necessary, and the account of these provocations will be asked in court. No one can target the unity, solidarity, and social peace of this country in such a reckless manner. Nor can they make a distinction like Alevi-Sunni. With God's permission, we will not allow this.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Journalist Merdan Yanardağ criticized the attitude of former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu before the party congress case on the program "4 Questions 4 Answers" on TELE1 channel on September 11. Yanardağ stated, "Alevi traitors exist, yes. No piro, Alevi, dede, etc. This literature does not work. There are many Alevi traitors, just like there are in other nations and beliefs. But among the most oppressed and pure people of this country, there are Alevi citizens, just like other citizens. Alevi people will not allow this," he said. Yanardağ later corrected his words to "There are many Alevi traitors as well."
Former Minister of Culture and former CHP deputy Fikri Sağlar, while participating in a live broadcast on Halk TV, described himself as "a fortress with Alevi-Bektashi belief" and criticized Kılıçdaroğlu's attitude towards Alevi citizens. Sağlar stated, "Because for 13 years, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu remained in power by exploiting them. And what Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu did is a greater evil than what Yavuz Sultan Selim did."