They cursed Atatürk! Scandalous remarks from Şevki Yılmaz
Insults directed at Atatürk during the wedding of Berna Sultan Osmanoğlu, daughter of Orhan Osmanoğlu—the grandson of Sultan Abdulhamid II—where İlber Ortaylı served as a wedding witness, have sparked widespread outrage. In newly emerged footage, former MP Şevki Yılmaz is heard calling Atatürk a convert from Thessaloniki before cursing him.
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While the insults directed at Atatürk by a former Refah Party MP at the wedding of Berna Osmanoğlu, the 4th-generation granddaughter of Sultan Abdulhamid II, caused a major backlash, the fact that İlber Ortaylı, who was present at the wedding, remained silent during the incident became a topic of discussion.
Following the backlash directed at him, İlber Ortaylı made a statement on his social media account.
In his statement, Ortaylı said, "It is impossible for me to approve of the inappropriate remarks made by a former MP. I expressed my discomfort when it was my turn to speak. These are words that befit coffeehouse corners, not people who know history. It is an open hostility toward Atatürk."
ŞEVKİ YILMAZ: "CONVERT FROM THESSALONIKI"
In the latest footage that has emerged, Şevki Yılmaz is heard calling Atatürk a "convert from Thessaloniki" before cursing him.
According to Gazete Pencere, Imam Halil Konakcı, a public official affiliated with the Diyanet, was seen smiling and saying "Amen."