Akit knows no bounds: 'Fit as a fiddle' headline for Murat Çalık, who is battling cancer
The 'Fit as a fiddle' headline by Yeni Akit targeting Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, who has beaten cancer twice and whose health has deteriorated in prison, has drawn public backlash. Çalık's mother had called for justice, saying, 'I don't want my son to slip through my fingers.'
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The health condition of CHP Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, who was arrested on March 23 as part of operations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, is steadily worsening in prison. Çalık, who previously beat cancer twice, has lost 21 kilograms during his detention.
Recently operated on due to suspected lymphoma, Çalık subsequently underwent an angiography and was sent back to prison in handcuffs. However, the Council of Forensic Medicine requested a re-evaluation of the medical board report previously issued by the İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital.
During this process, Mehmet Murat Çalık was admitted to the hematology ward of the İzmir City Hospital.
FORENSIC MEDICINE CITES “1999 DIAGNOSIS” AS JUSTIFICATION
In its statement, the Council of Forensic Medicine noted that Çalık was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 1999, but that the disease had not recurred for 26 years and its symptoms had disappeared. However, experts point out that such conditions can be re-triggered by stress and weakened immunity.
A MOTHER'S PLEA: “I WANT MERCY”
Çalık’s mother, Gülseren Çalık, spoke to the press in tears at the hospital, stating:
“I am very desperate. I do not want my son to slip through my fingers. I want mercy from the Minister of Justice, the prosecutors, and the judges.”
HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL HEADLINE FROM YENİ AKİT
Following all these developments, Yeni Akit, known for its pro-government and reactionary publications, committed a major scandal. Ignoring Murat Çalık's serious health problems, the newspaper used the phrase “Çalık is fit as a fiddle” in its headline.
The report also used expressions such as, “Forensic Medicine debunked the ‘the patient is dying’ lie with its report,” attempting to discredit both Çalık and his family.
Here is that controversial headline: