Ahmet Hakan to Celal Şengör: 'He should have apologized to Zübeyde Hanım'

Renowned geologist Celal Şengör had previously stated in a YouTube program that he had lifted a student's skirt.

In response to the issue, women in İzmir had protested against Şengör.

Hürriyet columnist Ahmet Hakan brought the issue to his column. In his piece, Hakan said, "Celal Şengör should have apologized to Zübeyde Hanım."

"I APOLOGIZE TO ALL MOTHERS IN YOUR PERSON"

The relevant part of Hakan's article is as follows:

Celal Şengör went to İzmir to give a speech at an event organized by the Karşıyaka Municipality. However, women gathered in front of the hall where he was to speak and protested, calling Şengör a "harasser." What is this harassment incident?

Let's recall:

Celal Şengör, while recounting a memory about a female student, had said, "I lifted her skirt and slapped her b...." Encountering protests from women in İzmir, Celal Şengör rushed to Zübeyde Hanım's memorial tomb in Karşıyaka, İzmir, the next day. Kneeling at the memorial tomb, he said: "I stand before you as a soldier of your precious son. We, as a nation, owe you a debt of gratitude. The Republic of Turkey will remain forever, as your son said."

I suppose Celal Şengör thought he could break the impact of the harassment protest this way. Did he break the impact? Maybe. A little. Slightly.

However, he could have done something that would have completely eliminated the impact. For example, something like this: He would have knelt in front of Zübeyde Hanım's memorial tomb. And he would have said the following:

"Mother of the great man who lit the light of modern education in my country. I harassed a female student whom the nation entrusted to me to educate. I acted very shamefully. I apologize to all mothers in your person."