Polemic between Uğur Dündar and Gürsel Tekin over 'CHP meeting with extras'

A polemic has erupted between journalist Uğur Dündar and CHP member Gürsel Tekin over social media posts concerning allegations of a “CHP meeting with extras.” The dispute escalated following Tekin’s filing of a criminal complaint against Dündar and subsequent statements made by both parties on X.

In a post on his X account, Dündar stated that for the first time in his nearly 60-year journalistic career, he has encountered such a situation, explaining that Tekin filed a criminal complaint against him for sharing a news report that he claimed was “proven by documents and confessions.”

In his post, Dündar noted that he had included the statements of both Gürsel Tekin and the agency that alleged individuals were sent to the event via a casting agency without adding any commentary, stating, “It is truly a cautionary and tragicomic situation that will go down in the history of politics and the press. Meanwhile, I will also be filing a criminal complaint against Tekin for targeting journalists.”

Gürsel Tekin responded to Dündar again via X. Stating that he respects Dündar’s professional experience, Tekin argued that unverified allegations cannot be presented as “proven facts.”

Emphasizing that journalism involves pursuing the truth by listening to all sides, Tekin said, “Saying ‘I shared it without commentary’ does not eliminate a journalist’s responsibility to verify and provide the other party with a right of reply. We are a direct party to this incident. You could have reached out to us just as you reached out to everyone else.”

Stating that no judgment can be passed on allegations currently undergoing a judicial process, Tekin noted that his objections were not directed at criticism, but at the presentation of a one-sided perception to the public as if it were the truth.

DÜNDAR MADE A STATEMENT ON LIVE BROADCAST

Following the dispute, Uğur Dündar connected to a live broadcast on Habertürk TV, stating that he had only shared the news and had published the statements of both Gürsel Tekin and the casting agency without commentary, out of respect for the right of reply.

Dündar stated that he had not made any accusations against Gürsel Tekin, adding, “No one said he organized it either. For this reason, I cannot understand the criminal complaint; I see it as a complete oversensitivity.”

Expressing that he and Tekin have a history, Dündar mentioned that during Tekin’s tenure as CHP Secretary General, Tekin had offered him a parliamentary candidacy, which he had declined, adding, “I have no issues with him.”