Refugee video shared by YRP's Fatih District Branch removed; Yeniden Refah Party asks for forgiveness
Halit Özkarataşlıoğlu, the Yeniden Refah Party's mayoral candidate for Fatih, drew backlash for an election campaign video he shared on social media. The video, which depicted refugees being placed in boxes and sent abroad, also caused discomfort within the party.
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In the video prepared as an election advertisement, refugees are placed into boxes one by one, taken to the airport, and sent to their home countries. Özkarataşlıoğlu's post targeting refugees drew significant backlash.
It was announced that the video, which spread quickly on social media and became the target of criticism, was removed following a post made by the Yeniden Refah Party's account.
In the statement made from the party's official social media account, it was expressed that such an advertisement film never aligns with their views, and at the end of the statement, they asked for forgiveness from those who were affected and hurt by the video.
Here is that statement made by the party regarding the video in question:
The video titled "If there is no morality, there is irregular migration," published by our Fatih District Branch, has caused a wide reaction on social media.
As Milli Görüş members who belong to an understanding with high Islamic and humanitarian sensitivities, we took action as soon as we saw the post in question and ensured its removal from publication.
With its worldview that prioritizes human dignity and is based on human rights, Milli Görüş has won the hearts not only of our nation but also of Muslims and even all of humanity across the world.
The approach exhibited by our Fatih District Branch does not reflect our party's official view on migration and refugees, nor the general opinion of our nearly 500 thousand members on the subject.
As the Yeniden Refah Party, we would like to underline that since the day we were founded, and as the Milli Görüş tradition for over 50 years, we will continue to wipe away the tears of the oppressed wherever they may be, share our bread, and embrace them.
We apologize to any of our brothers and sisters whose hearts may have been broken due to the video that we do not approve of and have immediately removed from publication, and we ask them to forgive us.