AKP's Özlem Zengin responds to 'God's wrath' remarks

AKP Group Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin has responded to the controversy surrounding the words "This is what God's wrath looks like," which were heard from her party's benches at the moment Saadet Party Kocaeli MP Hasan Bitmez fell ill after suffering a heart attack during budget negotiations. 

OFFERED CONDOLENCES 

Zengin took the floor at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) during the ongoing budget negotiations for the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of National Education for 2024.

Addressing allegations that she was the one who used the phrase "God's wrath," which was also recorded in the General Assembly minutes, Zengin expressed her condolences to Hasan Bitmez's family, the Saadet Party, and the TBMM.

"I STOOD UP AND REQUESTED THE FLOOR"

Stating that she stood up to request the floor in response to attacks against the AKP group, Zengin said, "Honestly, I was not planning to address this topic today, but life is interesting; you were at the podium that day, and our friends were sitting like this again. You know we have an agreement. We take the floor after all party groups have finished their remarks, and we did the same today. However, because there was going to be another speech that day, I came over to you and requested the floor. As the speaker was finishing his remarks, while he was still at the podium, I stood up and asked for the floor."

"I CONDEMN THE BLACK PROPAGANDA CONDUCTED HERE"

Noting that many allegations were brought up in the media on the day Bitmez fell ill at the podium, Zengin stated, "I am the AKP Group Deputy Chair. All our friends here are witnesses to everything. The duty of us Group Deputy Chairs is to respond to issues directed at us that exceed their bounds and to which we object, just as I am doing now. I will leave my explanations and comments regarding this matter for later; I will certainly speak on this issue, but I condemn the black propaganda being conducted in the public eye, especially by using different photographs. My standing up was, just as it is now, to request the floor while the speaker was at the podium to respond on behalf of our group with your knowledge. There is no problem now that the speaker has returned to his seat; this is the ordinary course of life. Thousands of heckles have been made in this General Assembly, and very harsh speeches have been heard, and we are here to respond to them."

"THIS SUSPICION SHOULD NOT REMAIN ON THE AK PARTY"

Saadet Party Group Deputy Chairman İsa Mesih Şahin said the following on the matter:

"In her speech, Ms. Özlem reacted to the black propaganda she claims is being conducted against her regarding the unfortunate incident that took place here the other day. We do not find it right to attribute something to someone without proof, let us underline this, but there is a reality... This reality has also entered the parliamentary records.

A very unfortunate remark was made from the AK Party benches after our honorable deputy fell to the ground, and this remark remains as a suspicion over the AK Party members. We are not making this up; it is documented in the records that this remark came from the AK Party benches. Our expectation is this: We would accept it if they said, 'Yes, this remark was made by a colleague of ours, it is wrong, but we apologize to the public,' or they should bring the colleague forward, have the colleague make a public statement, and let this suspicion not remain on the AK Party."

AKP's Zengin also shared a video of her speech on her social media account with the note, "Against suspicion... 'The Truth'."

WHAT HAPPENED?

It was recorded in the parliamentary minutes that a deputy or deputies from the AKP benches shouted "This is how God's wrath happens" at the moment Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy Bitmez fell ill and collapsed while criticizing the government's Israel policy at the parliamentary podium.

AKP Group Deputy Chairman Özlem Zengin stated, "Some of our friends may not have understood what was happening because they were in the back."