AKP reacts to drug operation where celebrities were taken from their homes: The 'right not to be stigmatized' detail

Following CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's call to AKP women regarding the dawn raids conducted on artists, AKP Group Deputy Chairman Özlem Zengin made a statement in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) regarding the 'right not to be stigmatized'. 

CHP's Murat Emir pointed out that the detained artists had supported the protests for İmamoğlu in Saraçhane:

"An operation is being carried out against artists and famous people at the crack of dawn. What is the allegation? Drugs. But you look and see that almost all of the individuals involved are artists who supported the protests in Saraçhane, opposed the unjust detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, and stood by the young people arrested in Saraçhane. Yet, are you showing them a stick in this situation? Are you trying to intimidate the opposition?"

Emir stated that the artists were being subjected to character assassination and rebelled against the treatment of actress Meriç Aral Keskin, who had recently given birth:

"You are taking famous artists at the crack of dawn in an unacceptable manner by committing character assassination. You are taking them away in a rush, disregarding procedural laws. You are even taking a woman who is pregnant or a one-month postpartum mother to the police station with a breast pump in her hand. You are supposedly fighting against drugs. On the other hand, you are having your trolls attack them."

"I TRUST YOUR CONSCIENCE"

Following these words, Murat Emir addressed AKP Group Deputy Chairman Özlem Zengin, who was in the AKP rows.

Emir addressed Zengin, saying 'I trust your conscience':

"Ms. Zengin, I am asking clearly. You are both a mother and a lawyer. I also trust your conscience. Is this fair? Is this acceptable? Of course, fight against drugs. Grab the barons by the collar, the barons. You don't see the barons; you are doing this to silence the artists, to intimidate them, to show them a stick. They are trying to create a climate of fear and maintain their power through it. It is that simple."

Taking the floor, Özlem Zengin responded to Emir. Zengin stated that the subjects of drug operations must have their 'right not to be stigmatized'—that is, the individual's legal security and dignity—protected.

"IT MUST BE DONE BY PROTECTING THE RIGHT NOT TO BE STIGMATIZED"

Zengin stated the following:

"I would like to say this regarding drugs. The follow-up process in this matter and the investigation processes in this matter must be carried out by protecting the right of the subjects not to be stigmatized. I am talking about something beyond whether people used it or didn't use it, or whether it was a little or a lot. All these investigations and all the actions taken regarding this matter are the most natural right of every human being, whether they are famous or not. I wish for a good working day, underlining that these should be done by exercising the right not to be stigmatized."

"I APPRECIATE ZENGIN"

Taking the floor again after Zengin's remarks, Emir said:

"I appreciate your views regarding the right not to be stigmatized. It is important, it is valuable. It is valuable that it came from the AKP group. But the AKP is the party that holds political power, and it is the political party that controls those trolls, those newspapers, and the media that incite these lynchings, mobilize these trolls, accuse these artists in advance, and claim that these artists use or even trade drugs. Therefore, we advise you to make these words and this stance of yours more clearly and decisively towards your own party. A small piece of advice."