AKP's Elitaş issues 'martyrs' families' directive to party organizations! 'If they have objections...'

AKP Deputy Chairman Mustafa Elitaş made statements at an event organized by his party's Yozgat Provincial Presidency. While evaluating the new reconciliation process, referred to as a Terror-Free Turkey, Elitaş gave important warnings to the party organization, particularly regarding communication with the families of martyrs.

In his speech, Elitaş drew attention with the words, “10 thousand of our security personnel have fallen as martyrs in the fight against terrorism; if they have objections, if they have accusations, if they have outcries, see them as justified, but do not criticize them, do not argue with them,” and asked party members to approach the sensitivities of martyrs' families with understanding.

In his statement, Elitaş recalled the speech President Erdoğan gave in Malazgirt in August 2024, his speech at the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on October 1, 2024, and the statements made by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli at his party's group meeting on October 22, emphasizing that these three initiatives point to the same goal. Elitaş said:

“The speech our President gave in Malazgirt in August 2024, the opening speech made at the Turkish Grand National Assembly on October 1, 2024, and subsequently the speech Mr. Devlet Bahçeli made on October 22 at the Nationalist Movement Party group, we said that for the 86 million of Turkey to be one body, to reach the same goal and the same cause, for the hearts of 86 million to beat in the same harmony, and to be able to build the Century of Turkey, we must bring about a terror-free Turkey.”

Stating that significant progress has been made in this framework, Elitaş said, “Thank God, 8 to 10 months have passed since that day, and we are moving forward step by step. With patience and calmness, we will hopefully reach the goal.”

Emphasizing that the organization should be careful against emotional rhetoric, especially over the concept of martyrdom in cities with a high concentration of conservative voters like Yozgat and Kayseri, Elitaş stated, "Please believe that those who make speeches that truly move us all, by taking the poles of demagoguery made over our martyrs into account, saying 'alas, the pain of the martyrs, you are hurting the martyrs, you are leaving people alone with the pain of the martyrs,' are not sincere."

Asking for the grievances of martyrs' families to be approached with understanding, Elitaş said, “If your martyrs' families have a reaction to you regarding this issue, see it as justified, but do not enter into an argument. Their hearts are burning. 10 thousand of our security personnel have fallen as martyrs in the fight against terrorism; if they have objections, if they have accusations, if they have outcries, see them as justified, but do not criticize them, do not argue with them.”

In the final part of his speech, he argued that the steps taken towards a terror-free Turkey, especially in the Eastern and Southeastern provinces, were welcomed by the public. Elitaş made the following assessment:

“Do you know what they say when we go to the families of martyrs? My child was martyred, my heart is burning, my soul is burning, fire has fallen into my home. They say, please declare a terror-free Turkey so that no more fire falls into any home regarding terrorism from now on, destroy the terrorist organization.

They say, our homes burned, but let no fire fall into anyone else's home. These days, those who act as subcontractors for others are trying to develop different discourses through our martyrs' families. They are trying to do this in provinces where nationalist conservatism is at its peak, like ours.

For God's sake, brothers, during the period when the murderous terrorist organization was watching itself for 41 years, it is among our duties to build this terror-free Turkey. It is currently being met with great joy in the Southeast.

When we first started this movement in October 2024, the public response was 45 percent yes, 45 percent no, and 10 percent undecided. But now, when asked if they want a terror-free Turkey, 80 percent said yes.”