06.06.2026 09:41
Reaction is pouring in over Rahmi Koç's "Kurdish female patient" joke at a hospital opening and former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım's laughter at it. While citizens describe Yıldırım's laughter as a betrayal of President Erdoğan's cause, they invited Rahmi Koç and Binali Yıldırım to apologize.
A joke told by Koç Holding Honorary Chairman Rahmi Koç during the opening ceremony of American Hospital in İzmir Balçova has become a trending topic on social media. The footage, featuring a joke based on patient privacy, female identity, and ethnic identity, quickly reached a wide audience.
In the video, Koç is seen telling a joke while showing the hospital to protocol members, and some figures in the hall are seen laughing at the joke.
ATTENTION TURNED TO BİNALİ YILDIRIM
One of the figures in the footage is former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım. In the video shared on social media, moments of Yıldırım laughing heartily at the joke drew attention.
After the joke spread, some criticisms were directed at Rahmi Koç himself, while others targeted the protocol members who laughed at the joke.
REACTIONS POURED IN ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media users expressed their reactions, arguing that jokes based on women and Kurdish identity are unacceptable. While Binali Yıldırım's attitude in the footage was also criticized, many users demanded a statement on the matter.
As reactions grew rapidly, the hashtag "#RahmiKoçÖzürDile" (RahmiKoçApologize) ranked among the trending topics on social media.
"BİNALİ YILDIRIM SHOULD APOLOGIZE"
Citizens reacted with statements such as: "Jokes and laughter based on women's bodies and identity are unacceptable. Rahmi Koç and Binali Yıldırım must apologize immediately," "Mr. Binali Yıldırım's laughter at this joke, considered racist, is a betrayal of the cause, effort, hard work, and will put forth by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan," and "Is Binali Yıldırım finding it very funny?"
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