17.12.2025 11:30
The harsh words of the Key Party's General Chairman Yavuz Ağıralioğlu towards former Major Esat Oktay Yıldıran sparked a political debate. In response to the reactions, Ağıralioğlu stated that he had confused Yıldıran with other names associated with torture in Mamak Prison. The statements led to mutual reactions among nationalist circles and members of the MHP.
The words of Key Party Chairman Yavuz Ağıralioğlu regarding former Major Esat Oktay Yıldıran have caused a wide reaction in politics and the public. Ağıralioğlu made a statement saying he mixed up the names in response to the backlash.
HARSH WORDS SPARKED DEBATE
Key Party Chairman Yavuz Ağıralioğlu came to the forefront with his harsh statements about former Major Esat Oktay Yıldıran, who is associated with torture in prisons after the September 12 coup. Ağıralioğlu described Yıldıran as "a beast devoid of humanity, a torturer."
"I MIXED UP NAMES" STATEMENT
Following the growing backlash, Ağıralioğlu made a new statement, saying he confused Esat Oktay Yıldıran with Dürüst Oktay and Zeki Kaman, who are associated with torture allegations in Mamak Prison. Ağıralioğlu stated, "Everyone who causes the Republic of Turkey to be associated with torture is guilty. Torture is a crime against humanity."
HARSH REACTIONS FROM THE NATIONALIST FRONT
After the statements, Nurtaç Usta, the Provincial Chairman of the Grey Wolves in Bursa, also made a strong post on social media. Usta criticized those defending Esat Oktay Yıldıran, stating that torture cannot be justified in any way. In his post, Usta said, "Defending people like Esat Oktay Yıldıran just because they wear a uniform is stupidity." In a subsequent post, he recalled the allegations that Yıldıran tortured not only PKK members but also nationalists, strongly opposing the justifications for torture.
OBJECTION FROM MHP DEPUTY
The debate also included MHP Tokat Deputy and MYK member Yücel Bulut. Bulut stated that Esat Oktay Yıldıran did not serve in Mamak Prison, arguing that the person who tortured nationalists was a police officer named "Dürüst Oktay." In his post, Bulut used the following expressions: "Esat Oktay Yıldıran did not serve in Mamak Prison. It was Dürüst Oktay who inflicted severe torture on nationalists in Ankara. He was not a soldier; he was a police officer. The coup is bad, the coup plotter is despicable, and the torturer is vile."
WHO IS ESAT OKTAY YILDIRAN?
Esat Oktay Yıldıran was born on February 15, 1949, in the Buca district of İzmir. His father was a worker in a factory in İzmir, and his mother was a housewife. Yıldıran completed his primary and secondary education in Buca. He received his high school education at İzmir Atatürk High School.
During his high school years, Yıldıran held nationalist views and decided to join the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). He entered the Army Academy in 1967. During his years of education at the Academy, he shifted ideologically further to the right. He graduated from the Army Academy in 1970 with the rank of infantry lieutenant.
After graduation, he entered the Army Staff College in Ankara. During his time at the Army Staff College, he participated in the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. He graduated from the Army Staff College in 1976 with the rank of staff captain. After graduation, he served in various military units. In 1980, he was assigned to Diyarbakır.
The controversies regarding Yıldıran began here. During his tenure at Diyarbakır Prison, there were allegations that he had tortured prisoners. According to some sources, it was claimed that 67 people died in the prison during his term, and hundreds were left disabled.
After his term at Diyarbakır Prison, Yıldıran was assigned to Istanbul. He served as a battalion commander with the rank of major in the 23rd Infantry Division in Istanbul.
On October 22, 1988, he boarded a public bus with his wife and child from the stop in front of the military housing in the Sarıgazi neighborhood of Ümraniye. One of the two PKK members who boarded the bus at the same stop opened fire when the bus arrived at the Kısıklı Square stop, saying, "Laz Kemal's (Kemal Pir) regards." Kemal Pir was one of the founders of the PKK who died in Diyarbakır Prison.
On the same day at 21:00, a PKK member who called Cumhuriyet Newspaper said, "Esat Oktay Yıldıran, who was punished in Kısıklı, has been killed by the PKK."
Yıldıran's remains were buried in Edirnekapı Martyrs' Cemetery.