Home > Current Affairs News > She said 'May he rest in peace' to the FETÖ ringleader: Investigation launched into journalist Aysın Komitgan

She said 'May he rest in peace' to the FETÖ ringleader: Investigation launched into journalist Aysın Komitgan

In Bursa, an investigation has been launched against local journalist Aysın Komitgan, who announced the death of FETÖ ringleader Fethullah Gülen with the words "May he rest in peace," on charges of "praising crime and criminals" and "engaging in terrorist propaganda."

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In Bursa, an investigation has been launched by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against journalist Aysın Komitgan, who announced the news of the death of Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) ringleader Fethullah Gülen on a local web television channel and used the phrase "May he rest in peace." Komitgan has been summoned to the Counter-Terrorism Branch Directorate to provide a statement.

SHE HAD SAID 'MAY HE REST IN PEACE'

Aysın Komitgan, who hosts a television program on a local website, stated the following regarding the death of Fethullah Gülen: "The news of Fethullah Gülen's death, which has come up several times before and which we learned was not true, has arrived. He passed away yesterday. The news of his death has been confirmed by his close sources and his nephew. What can we say, may he rest in peace."

 

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED: SUMMONED TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT

Komitgan's remarks sparked reactions after being broadcast on social media. The Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation on charges of "praising crime and criminals" and "engaging in terrorist propaganda." Teams from the Bursa Police Department's Counter-Terrorism Branch also invited Komitgan to the police station to provide her statement.

'ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE'

The management of the website "Bursa'da Bugün" issued a statement following the incident. The statement included the following remarks:

“During a TV interview held today with the President of the Turkish Association of University Women, the remarks made by Aysın Komitgan, who works as a columnist and editor-in-chief at our institution, regarding the death of the traitor and terrorist ringleader, which contradict the sensitivities of our society, have deeply wounded us as well. Regardless of the intent, it is absolutely unacceptable to us that our institution's name is involved in a process that causes such negative effects in our society. The indivisible integrity of our country and homeland is our red line, just as it is for every honorable child of this nation. The accountability that the architect of the treacherous coup attempt, the FETÖ ringleader, and his followers will face before this Great Nation—especially before our martyrs and veterans—is our greatest desire, just as it is for our entire society. Our valued readers should have no doubt that we will take the necessary steps in this regard immediately.”

KOMİTGAN APOLOGIZED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Meanwhile, journalist Aysın Komitgan apologized to the public in a statement made on her personal social media account. In her statement, Komitgan said:

“Certain expressions made under the conditions of a live broadcast can unfortunately be interpreted differently, especially during such sensitive periods for society. To express my feelings clearly, independent of my 40-year journalistic identity, as a Turkish citizen who has spent her life strictly adhering to Atatürk's principles and the values of the Republic, and who is also a member of the CHP, it is never possible for me to wish mercy upon the death of the FETÖ ringleader who had treacherous plans against our country. Neither I nor my family have ever had any connection, near or far, with such cults at any period of our lives.

Therefore, both my close circle and everyone I communicate with professionally know very well that my stance and attitude toward this person, who made treacherous plans against our country, has been clear from day one. However, I used such an expression because I could not fully reflect my feelings during the live broadcast. Since there is no turning back from words spoken on a live broadcast, I unfortunately used that phrase out of the hundreds of words that came to my mind. However, it is truly sad that a sentence spoken with human emotions has been distorted to this extent. Therefore, I apologize to the public on behalf of myself and my institution for these erroneous words that caused a different perception.”