The 'executioner' debate is over, the 'grandfather' debate has begun... Erdoğan joins the fray: 'Where my grandfather was...'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at the “Strong Turkey for Humanity” program, both delivered messages regarding human rights and addressed polemics on the political agenda. A significant portion of his speech was devoted to the “executioner” debate that has been ongoing for some time with CHP leader Özgür Özel.

HOW DID THE DEBATE START?

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in his speech at his party's 39th Ordinary Congress, had said, “I invite you not to fall into a Stockholm syndrome, not to fall in love with the executioner you barely escaped from yesterday.”

Following these remarks, President Erdoğan responded to Özel at his party's group meeting, saying, “Mr. Özel, if you have the courage and want to see an executioner, look in the mirror.”

THE “WHERE WAS YOUR GRANDFATHER?” POLEMIC

Following Erdoğan's statements, Özel responded in a press statement he made in Silivri.

Referring to the joint struggle during the founding years of the Republic, Özel had said:

“Erdoğan will not gain any political capital from this debate. When it is said ‘We founded the Republic,’ the CHP rightly says, ‘There was only one party then, all of our grandfathers were there.’ Then he finds a source of hostility in history and blames the CHP. Where was your grandfather?”

Özel had criticized Erdoğan's historical references by stating that the ancestors of the entire society were shoulder to shoulder in the War of Independence.

AKP YOUTH WING CHAIRMAN SHARED A DOCUMENT

Following these words by Özel, AKP Youth Wing Chairman Yusuf İbiş also joined the debate.

İbiş had responded to Özel by sharing a document showing that Erdoğan's grandfather was martyred in Sarıkamış.

“OUR YOUTH WING GAVE THE ANSWER HE DESERVED”

President Erdoğan touched upon this debate again in his speech today.

Criticizing Özel with harsh words, Erdoğan said:

“Every time the CHP Chairman is cornered, he either kicks the ball into touch, becomes aggressive, or talks nonsense. He even crossed the line and asked where my late grandfather, who was martyred in Sarıkamış, was a century ago. Our youth wing gave this political novice the answer he deserved.”

Erdoğan also directed new criticisms toward Özel:

“I consider it a waste to spend breath on this individual who plunders the resources of the people of Istanbul and considers it a skill to act as a carrier pigeon for a criminal organization. I pray to God to grant him wisdom and common sense.”

In another part of his speech, Erdoğan emphasized human rights and used the following expressions:

“When the wrong practices of the single-party mentality are set aside and our nation's history, culture, and values of faith are examined, it is seen that the rights recorded in the declaration are not foreign to us.”

“Respecting humans, protecting human dignity, and ensuring the exercise of rights that come from creation are the sublime values left to us by our civilization.”

News Source: 12punto