Tension between DEM and IYI Party: Scandalous remarks by PKK member Çetin Arkaş raise tensions in the Turkish Parliament

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Tekin Bingöl to discuss the 'Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Expert Sergeants and Certain Other Laws,' which includes regulations concerning expert privates and sergeants.

Taking the floor during this session, IYI Party Group Deputy Chairman Uğur Poyraz reacted to a speech made in Mersin by PKK terrorist Çetin Arkaş—who carried out the 1991 arson attack on the Çetinkaya Department Store in Bakırköy that resulted in the deaths of 12 people—at a "Freedom Rally" organized by the DEM Party for the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Öcalan.

Making scandalous remarks, Arkaş had stated in his speech, "You will eventually come back to the repentance law; look back at us, look at the tens of thousands in this square, do you see any sign of regret in us?"

IYI Party's Poyraz used the following expressions in his speech at the TBMM:

“The date is December 25, 1991. The place is Bakırköy, Istanbul. I want to read some names to you. Because the greatest flaw of human memory is forgetfulness, I am reminding you of these names and commemorating them with mercy.

Ahmet Çetinkaya, the nephew of Mr. Necati Çetinkaya, one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party. Hasan Dervişoğlu. Merve Gül Bakkal, a 2-year-old child of ours. Sezar Bakkal, Merve Gül's mother. Hatice Çelik, Habibe Çelik, Zübeyde, Nadir, Şadiye Nadir, Rezzan, Seda Kızılkırmızı, Süheyla Kızılkırmızı, Yaver, Ağabeyli, Şengül, Aras.

"HE WAS ÖCALAN'S SECRETARIAT"

Regardless of where these people I listed were from, whether they were Turkish or Kurdish, Alevi or Sunni—in other words, regardless of who they were—they were all massacred. The person responsible for this massacre, PKK terrorist organization executive Çetin Arkaş, was released on July 2 last year. During the previous 'solution process,' he was assigned to the secretariat of the terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan, who continues his activities today. Look, everything is like déjà vu.

The criminal named Çetin Arkaş, for whom calls were made for his release on the grounds that he was terminally ill, took the stage and spoke at the 'Freedom for Öcalan' rally held over the weekend. He said: ‘You will eventually come back to the repentance law; look back at us, look at the tens of thousands in this square. Do you see any sign of regret in us?’ he asked. ‘Is there anyone who would accept my child as their own if they came back repentant?’ he asked.

Let a human being stand up and answer me. How can a 'freedom rally' be held for a convicted terrorist who founded, managed, and still manages the PKK terrorist organization—which was established to destroy the Republic of Turkey and its constitutional order—and who has issued execution orders in this sacred homeland, in these lands watered with the blood of martyrs? That is my first question. Secondly, how can a murderer, a criminal, an executive of a terrorist organization utter these sentences?”

Following Poyraz's remarks, mutual verbal sparring occurred between IYI Party and DEM Party deputies. As the tension continued, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Bingöl adjourned the session for 10 minutes.