Naci Görür responds to 'Taş Yapı advertising face' allegations

A residential construction project by "Taş Yapı" on a plot of land declared an earthquake assembly area in Şişli had become a subject of controversy, and Prof. Dr. Naci Görür's photograph had appeared on the company's billboards. Prof. Dr. Görür issued a statement on his social media account regarding the matter, stating the following:

"Friends, some people have been bothered because my poster was hung somewhere. I respect that. But the allocation of that place and what it will be used for, and who has the authority over it, is a matter for official authorities to know. It has nothing to do with us. What they did might be wrong. Many mistakes have been made until today. As a public, we haven't acted as we should have either. God knows we will make more mistakes. Do not drag us into politics. We have no business with politics."

Addressing the ongoing debate following his statement, Prof. Dr. Görür made another post on September 15, noting the following:

"Some 'pen-wielding gunmen' are making wild claims because we are holding an earthquake awareness talk for children in Şişli. As if we gave the building permit there, built the construction ourselves, and allocated the area ourselves. Where were you until now? What have you done? Other than talking, what are you doing to prepare the city for an earthquake? We have no side, no interest, no relationship, no acquaintance, etc."

On the other hand, the Okmeydanı Halkevi (People's House) published an open letter on its social media account regarding the earthquake event that Naci Görür was to hold under the sponsorship of "Taş Yapı," stating the following:

"Taşyapı, which encroached upon the earthquake assembly area of the people of Şişli, is an urban crime. The priority of creating earthquake awareness requires standing against urban crimes/criminals for 'earthquake-resilient cities.'

Against the criticisms directed at you for days, you are mocking the intelligence of the people of Şişli and the millions who trust science, using insulting language against criticism, and legitimizing the URBAN CRIMINAL Taşyapı.

The job of scientists is not just to explain earthquake awareness, but to call an urban crime an 'urban crime' and to produce science for the people."

Prof. Dr. Naci Görür responded to the criticisms directed at him with a statement he made on his social media account. In his post, Görür used the following expressions:

"Some ignorant people, people devoid of love and the desire to serve humanity, are writing lies and falsehoods, saying that I am the advertising face of Taş Yapı. I have no connection to them; I didn't even know them until yesterday. I love and respect people. I do not approach people with hostility. To me, every human being is sacred.

As a matter of fact, when the subject of 'earthquake awareness for children' in Şişli came up, they showed interest. They said they would buy and distribute a large number of earthquake books, notebooks, colored pencils, and earthquake kits, and that they would handle the venue allocation and announcements for the talk, and that they would support earthquake awareness without expecting anything in return. We thanked them. That is all there is to it.

Bad people who have no love for humanity and are writhing in feelings of hostility are stirring up this business with lies and falsehoods. It is the state's business who did what and where, and when they did it. I don't know what official bodies have done. Our job is to ensure our people do not die. Let us create earthquake-resilient cities. There is no need for cheap heroes. With love."