Tensions rise in Turkish Parliament: 'Pervert' row between Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu and Özlem Zengin

A debate over strip searches erupted during the deliberations of the Draft Law on Amendments to the Civil Servants Law and Certain Laws and Decree-Laws at the Turkish Parliament General Assembly.

The argument between DEM Party Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu and AKP Deputy Group Chair Özlem Zengin raised tensions in the Parliament General Assembly.

Gergerlioğlu stated the following:

“THEY WERE SUBJECTED TO A SHAMELESS STRIP SEARCH ORDEAL”

"We have brought the issue of strip searches to the agenda from this podium many times, and it was denied. Most recently, in a campaign regarding Palestine, young people were subjected to strip searches at the Istanbul Police Department. The Ministry of Justice suspended three officers, but Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç denied it. Then why did he suspend the officers? We asked the Minister of Interior; they are like a brick wall and are inclined to cover up the incident. Journalists who organized a protest for murdered journalists also suffered the same fate. They were subjected to a shameless strip search ordeal. This strip search is not always done. Why is it done? They say, 'Are you opposing my government? Then you get special treatment.' They do this in Palestine as well. They do this in the Kurdish issue as well. We bring this strip search issue to the agenda repeatedly; we are ashamed, but you are not.

Ms. Özlem Zengin has also opposed me many times, and she knows very well now that strip searches have existed in this country for years. History has proven her wrong and me right. I am telling the AK Party MPs: one day you will fall into the opposition, and you too may be subjected to a strip search. At that time, I will not say, 'they were silent yesterday'; I will stand against the victimization you suffer. Understand the importance of human rights."

“EVERY WORD I SAID WAS TRUE THEN AND IS TRUE NOW”

AKP Deputy Group Chair Özlem Zengin responded to these remarks, saying, "If it were possible, I would file an application regarding him under Law No. 6284 because he mentions my name in every speech he makes from the podium. When I said there were no strip searches, an incident occurred in Uşak years ago, in 2019. There was a new FETÖ structure in this incident. The claim of this FETÖ structure was that young women who were arrested were completely stripped; let us discuss the removal of what is currently called a full search, which is not in accordance with the regulations. Those women were never searched without anything left on them. I said at the time, 'an honorable person does not wait a year if such a search exists.' Every word I said was true then, and it is true now," she stated.

Gergerlioğlu said, "Özlem Zengin used the word 'pervert' towards me. She is a person who insults others when her injustice is exposed. Those women in Uşak were acquitted. Even if someone is a criminal, no one should be subjected to a strip search. Currently, strip searches are being conducted on Kurds as well as in the Palestine issue. I am right; I paid the price for this by staying in prison and by having my parliamentary seat revoked."

“WHERE HAS IT EVER BEEN SEEN FOR A DEPUTY GROUP CHAIR TO CURSE AT AN MP?”

Zengin stated, "This ungentlemanly person absolutely lacks legal capacity. Every time he comes to this podium, saying 'Özlem Zengin' is a perverse attitude, an obsessive attitude. Pursue whatever legal path you want."

DEM Party Deputy Group Chair Sezai Temelli said, "Do not personalize everything. Try to respond to criticism, but you are cursing. We do not accept this language. Where has it ever been seen for a deputy group chair to curse at an MP?"