Ahmet Telli's family rejects Kılıçdaroğlu's request for a condolence visit

Following the refusal of the wreath sent by former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to poet Ahmet Telli's funeral, his planned condolence visit to the family was also not accepted.

The decision was announced by Ahmet Telli's son, Hakkı Telli, in a statement on his social media account. Telli stated that various assessments have been made in the public eye regarding the funeral ceremony and the condolence process, noting that certain developments during the ceremony were neither planned nor directed by the family.

The statement said, "As we have stated before, our family has no involvement in what has occurred during this process."

Hakkı Telli stated that they were informed of Kılıçdaroğlu's desire to pay a condolence visit. Telli noted that they are aware that Kılıçdaroğlu could not be with them during the period leading up to his father's passing due to the "intensity of his duties as a trustee," and thanked him for his kind gesture.

The full text of Hakkı Telli's statement is as follows:

"To the Press and the Public

In recent days, various assessments and discussions have taken place in the public eye regarding the funeral ceremony and the condolence process of our dear father, Ahmet Telli. First of all, we would like to state that certain developments that occurred during the funeral ceremony were not planned or directed by our family. As we have stated before, our family has no involvement in what has occurred during this process.

"DUE TO HIS DUTIES AS A TRUSTEE..."

It has been conveyed to us that Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu wishes to pay a condolence visit. We are aware that he could not be with us during the period leading up to our father's passing due to the intensity of his duties as a trustee, and we thank him for this kind thought.

However, due to the deep grief we are in and because we do not want our father's memory to become the subject of political debates or polemics, we prefer to experience the condolence process only in the silence of our family and close friends from now on.

Our greatest desire is for the poems and thoughts left behind by Ahmet Telli and the human values he defended throughout his life to be discussed, and for our grief to be kept outside of any kind of political debate. We ask for understanding regarding this sensitivity and expect the public to show the same care."