Investigation launched against Tunç Soyer over 'Vahdettin' remarks

The Ministry of Interior has launched an investigation into İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer regarding a speech he delivered on September 9, 2022, the 100th anniversary of the city's liberation from enemy occupation.

It was alleged that Soyer insulted the Ottoman Empire and the last Sultan, Vahdettin, by quoting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The allegations claim that Soyer targeted the Ottoman Empire and its administrators, and committed the crimes of insulting the memory of a person and inciting the public to hatred and hostility.

Inspectors have requested footage of Soyer's speech from the municipality. Meanwhile, many figures have expressed their reactions to the investigation on social media.

"THEY ARE LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION INTO ATATÜRK"

Journalist Mehmet Ali Güller stated on his social media account: "The Ministry of Interior has deemed the words İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer quoted from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk during the September 9 celebrations as an insult to the Ottoman Empire and the last Sultan, Vahdettin, and has launched an investigation against him. In reality, the AKP is not launching an investigation into Soyer, but into Atatürk!"

"YOU CANNOT FIGHT THE TRUTH"

Sharing the relevant page from the Nutuk (Speech), CHP Deputy Chairman responsible for the Ministry of Interior, Murat Bakan, said: "Those who launch an investigation into our İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer because of what he said about Vahdettin are those who have never read the Nutuk in their lives. The truth is the truth. You cannot fight the truth; you must face it."

"WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE REPUBLIC"

CHP İzmir Deputy Mahir Polat stated, "Those living in palaces, just as in the past, have become detached from the people today, falling into negligence, delusion, and even treason. Let those who turn the people against one another know this: our Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer, who manages İzmir—the city of freedom and peace—with dignity, who makes no concessions on the principles of the Republic and Atatürk, and who speaks from the same place with the same conviction, is not alone! We are the children of the Republic founded by Atatürk! We will never give up on the Republic and its values!"

"APPOINT A QADI!"

CHP İzmir Deputy Yüksel Taşkın also expressed the following: "You might as well appoint a 'Qadi' to oversee this 'crime' of insulting an Ottoman Sultan! We find this step taken against Tunç Soyer ahead of the local elections to be suspicious and we do not accept it. We invite the relevant authorities to act with seriousness."

Journalist Sinan Meydan also commented on his social media account, stating: "Attempting to prosecute someone for calling Vahdettin a 'traitor'—whom Atatürk described as a 'TRAITOROUS, DEGENERATE, VILE, HELPLESS, BASE CREATURE DEVOID OF FEELING AND COMPREHENSION' and whom the Grand National Assembly of Turkey declared a 'traitor to the homeland'—is an attempt to prosecute Atatürk himself. Defending the traitor Vahdettin is an insult to the Turkish nation, the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish soldier, and Atatürk."

News Source: 12punto