Bahçeli’s hostility toward female journalists!

Lider Haber reporter Pelin Zengin asked MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli a very clear question, referencing Narin, who was murdered in Diyarbakır, and the 2-year-old baby Sıla, who was beaten and sexually abused:

“Do you have any intention of bringing up the death penalty in the new constitution efforts to prevent such crimes?”

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You may oppose or support the reinstatement of the death penalty; that is not what we are debating. The question is clear…

Unlike the “know-it-all” friends who have recently staked their claim on our screens, a journalist’s job is not to pontificate, but to ask questions.

Devlet Bahçeli’s angry response was exactly as follows:

“Do not be eager to deceive with such perverse and wrong questions. The Turkish nation no longer has any side to be offended by this, but has begun to have sides to be ashamed of.”

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What did you understand from the response?

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t understand a thing.

I am sure that you, like me, had to read the sentence above several times to understand it…

By the way; how can a question be “perverse”?

Also, what did our sister Pelin, who is a polite reporter, actually say?

She asked a politician who shouts at every opportunity that they want to bring back the death penalty whether they would take a new step on this issue after the last two incidents; that’s all!

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I mean, she didn’t ask Devlet Bey about his sex life…

She didn’t bring up the rumors about tapes involving politicians…

She didn’t remind him of the MHP members who were the subject of tapes full of footage years ago…

She didn’t question the reason for his 180-degree turn over the last nine years…

She just asked:

“Will you bring the death penalty to the agenda?”

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We are journalists; our other name is “Abalı!” (the underdog/scapegoat).

In the past, poor people who fought with the rich were called “abalı” because of the clothes they wore… Those who later joined the fights between these two groups would punch the abalı, not the ones in kaftans, so that they wouldn’t get into trouble and could receive bags of gold from the ones in kaftans…

Nowadays, Devlet Bahçeli does this the most. Whenever he sees a reporter asking a “real journalistic question”…

Especially if that reporter is a woman; he starts berating them.

You may remember; on January 24, 2023, he pushed away the microphone extended by our colleague Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu, who was trying to ask him a question about the Sinan Ateş murder, and berated her by saying, “Go mind your own business, go mind your own business.”

Yet, Ms. Yıldız was just doing her job.

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Is this the first time such incidents have happened to journalists?

No…

But in the past, our professional organizations would stand up after such ugly behavior directed at a colleague.

Hundreds of journalists would gather, and we would put the politician who overstepped their bounds in their place…

Now; there is no professional organization left, no ethics, and no solidarity!

Those who are pushed remain pushed, and those who are berated remain berated.

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Devlet Bey…

We know that you do not like journalists, and especially that you belittle, push around, and insult our female colleagues…

To tell you the truth; I cannot say that I like you either…

In fact, I see you as the primary culprit for all the messes we have gotten into over the last decade.

Whenever I see your hateful face on the screen or hear your shrill voice, I sometimes cannot even control myself!

Also…

We journalists and you politicians do not have to like each other!

But your position requires you to at least establish a relationship that is “humane” and within the “framework of respect.”

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I don’t know Yıldız, whom you pushed around before, or Pelin, whom you accused of “asking a perverse question” yesterday.

All I know is that both of them were subjected to your “harassment and mobbing” while trying to do their jobs.

Look, I am not threatening you like you do; I am just warning you clearly:

If one day you run into a sharp-tongued colleague who returns these same words or actions to you; you will be stunned by what hits you…

Perhaps this way you will learn the lesson of your life and learn not to give rude, overstepping answers to any of our colleagues again, but you would also become news on all the world’s television channels!

Take it from me…

I won’t interfere with your waist; but…

Control your hands and your tongue, and know your place!