'You are not a man' dispute between AKP and CHP deputies: Accusations of 'exploitation' against the opposition
Speeches regarding an armed attack on a school in Kahramanmaraş escalated tensions in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) General Assembly. While the remarks made by AKP Kahramanmaraş Deputy İrfan Karatutlu regarding the incident drew a harsh reaction from the opposition, the General Assembly saw mutual accusations and insulting language.
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The debate in the TBMM General Assembly, which began over the school attack in Kahramanmaraş, intensified following remarks by AKP Kahramanmaraş Deputy İrfan Karatutlu accusing the opposition of "exploitation." The tension peaked with a "you are not a man" exchange between CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır and AKP Istanbul Deputy Adem Yıldırım.
AKP's Karatutlu stated that state officials went to the region quickly following the attack, that the families of the wounded and those who lost their lives were visited, and that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was also kept constantly informed about the process.
Arguing that the incident was distorted on social media, Karatutlu reacted to posts claiming "terrorists raided a school" and harshly criticized the use of the phrase "Maraş massacre" by some politicians and journalists. Stating, "The name of this is the Maraş school attack," Karatutlu accused the opposition of "exploiting the issue."
“YOU ARE NOT A MAN” EXCHANGE BETWEEN BAŞARIR AND YILDIRIM
Following the remarks by AKP's Karatutlu, tensions rose rapidly between CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır and AKP Istanbul Deputy Adem Yıldırım.
During his speech on the matter, CHP's Başarır reacted by claiming that Yıldırım had told him, "You are talking nonsense." Yıldırım, on the other hand, criticized the fact that he was not given the floor, arguing that the Assembly's Rules of Procedure were being violated.
The debate quickly turned into mutual insults. Turning to Başarır, Yıldırım said, "I have an answer, but first I look to see if the words are worth saying, and then I look to see if the person saying them is a man."
In the exchange, where phrases such as "You are not a man" and "You are ill-mannered" were used, tension persisted in the General Assembly.
Despite all warnings from the presidential podium, the parties continued to respond to each other in loud voices.
BEKİR BOZDAĞ ENDED THE DEBATE
The Deputy Speaker of the TBMM intervened as the debate grew, stating that the verbal exchanges were disrupting the order of the General Assembly and ended the discussion. The Deputy Speaker emphasized that if the right to speak were constantly granted for mutual provocations, the work of the Assembly could not be carried out.