Bülent Ecevit's sister-in-law's body could not be released from the hospital! Özgür Özel intervened

The body of former Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit's 93-year-old sister-in-law, Asude Aral, could not be retrieved.

According to a report by Saygı Öztürk from Sözcü, Asude Aral, the 93-year-old sister-in-law of the late former Prime Minister and former DSP Chairman Bülent Ecevit, passed away at the hospital. Aral's body has been unable to be released from the hospital for four days. Former DSP Member of Parliament and Ecevit Foundation Board Chairman Emrehan Halıcı, who has been trying to retrieve the body, said, "We could not get help from anyone to have the body released or to take possession of it. It is a very sad situation."

After Ecevit's passing, Asude Aral began living with Rahşan Ecevit in the Ecevit family home in the Oran district.

Following Rahşan Ecevit's death, Asude Aral lived alone in the house for a while, but as her health issues worsened, she was placed in a private nursing home on September 23, 2023. On October 22, 2024, she was taken to Bilkent City Hospital due to worsening health. Asude Aral passed away on November 14.

'RAHŞAN HANIM AND BÜLENT BEY SHOULD NOT BE DISTURBED'

Ecevit Foundation President Prof. Dr. Halıcı explained the situation to Sözcü as follows:

"We wanted to take Asude Hanım's body and bury it. However, because we do not have a kinship relationship, the hospital administration did not release the body to us. Asude Aral was a donor to the Ecevit Foundation and was a member of our foundation's board of directors until her death. Her siblings are abroad and cannot come. They say that if it is not claimed within 15 days, the body can be taken.

I served as a member of parliament for 3 terms and as DSP Group Chairman. I fulfilled my duties to the Ecevit family not only in their good days but also in their bad days. However, we cannot seem to take the trust from the hospital; this saddens me greatly. The deceased's body should not be kept in the hospital morgue any longer. Rahşan Hanım and Bülent Bey should not be disturbed."

'I WILL FOLLOW THE DEVELOPMENTS'

Upon learning that the body of Ecevit's sister-in-law could not be retrieved from the hospital, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel called Emrehan Halıcı and our writer Saygı Öztürk.

Özel said, "I learned about the situation from the news in Sözcü, and I am ready to do whatever is required of us." Özel also stated the following:

"When I read your report, I called Mr. Emrehan. He said that a letter of consent from Asude Hanım's relatives in the USA is required to release the body; he said he was working on that. When I said I would do everything in my power, he reminded me that the Ecevits do not want any special treatment. He said they are expecting more support from the hospital authorities. I will also follow the developments closely."