15.10.2026 22:02
AK Party Deputy Chairman Faruk Acar reacted sharply, arguing that the death of Üsküdar Acting Mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin, who lost his life in a traffic accident, was being used as material for political debates. "Even on people's most painful days, trying to gain an interest from this is outright immorality," Acar said, recalling the solidarity shown upon the death of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek and emphasizing that political competition should not come before human values.
AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Promotion and Media Faruk Acar reacted to negative posts made on social media about Üsküdar Deputy Mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin, who lost his life in a traffic accident.
“TRYING TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE FROM THIS EVEN ON PEOPLE’S MOST PAINFUL DAYS IS OUTRIGHT IMMORALITY”
Acar, in his written statement, using the expressions, “On the day a family loses its child, attempting to make political calculations over that pain truly does not accord with either conscience or humanity,” and noted the following:
“Seeing those who make even the death of such a very young brother as Dündar Ziya Gültekin material for political debates, one feels sad, even angry. Politics has a measure, a limit. Approaching every issue with political calculations, trying to gain an advantage from it even on people’s most painful days, is outright immorality. We do not have to agree with each other on everything. But we must know how to respect each other’s pain and honor each other’s mourning. A little conscience, a little mercy, and a little humanity... We are not asking for much.”
HE REMINDED OF FERDİ ZEYREK’S DEATH
In his statement, Acar also touched upon the death of CHP’s Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, and recalled that the AK Party community, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, published condolence messages at that time without making political distinctions.
Acar argued that after Gültekin’s death, some accounts close to the opposition displayed a different attitude, and said that the reactions shown to the two incidents should be evaluated by the public.
“WE NEVER PUT POLITICAL COMPETITION AHEAD OF PEOPLE’S PAIN”
Stating that political competition should not be placed ahead of human values, Acar emphasized that criticism and debate are part of democratic politics, but that a person’s death should not be made the subject of these debates.
Acar concluded his statement with the words, “We have never put political competition ahead of people’s pain. To expect the same human sensitivity from the other side is our most natural right.”