Peppers, inspections, resignation…

When I received a call from Tülov Board Member Ramazan Tanal saying, "I am calling from Şanlıurfa. We are expecting you at the wedding of Tülov member Salih Açıkgözoğlu," I replied, "I am invited, I have bought my ticket and I am coming." As someone from Fethiye, I have a special interest in and love for Eastern Anatolia. The warmth of its people and its nature is more naive and natural than in the west. However, those who live there know and understand this. Dr. İbrahim İpek from Suruç, who has a great passion for reading and producing, and Aziz Karadağ from Gaziantep picked me up from the Antep airport. We set off without delay.

To our right and left were Antep pistachio orchards. The soil between the trees had been plowed and aerated. On the road, one conversation led to another. İbrahim said, "The weather is dry again this year. Let's see what the situation of the farmers will be?" Aziz showed off a bit, saying, "60% of Antep pistachios are grown in Şanlıurfa. But the people of Antep took the lead by registering the Antep pistachio brand."

I first saw Şanlıurfa in 1975 during the Eastern Trip we organized with the contributions of our late Dean, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Aksu, when I was a 5th-year medical student. Between 2000 and 2004, I served as a faculty member at Harran University. In addition to my various duties at the university, I served as Chief Physician at the Training and Research Hospital for 3 years. I made many friends in Urfa. I hadn't been to Urfa, which I visited frequently as the responsible Deputy for Şanlıurfa during my parliamentary years, for the last few years. But they always invite me. God bless them.

The wedding hall was quite crowded. Urfa residents from all walks of life were at the wedding. We attended as a large group, led by Provincial Chairman Ferhat Karadağ, the CHP Şanlıurfa provincial organization, and Istanbul Kadıköy Council and Tülov Member Hüdai Demir. Before the wedding ceremony, a Whirling Dervish performance was held, which I watched for the first time. It was interesting. A Whirling Dervish at a wedding! The wedding ceremony took place in the presence of a long list of witnesses. After the "I do's," when it was time to hand over the marriage certificate, Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal handed it to me, saying, "I request it from Prof. Dr. Nurettin Demir, who has contributed to Urfa as a doctor, a professor, and a deputy." Faced with this unexpected appreciation, I said, "I congratulate the people of Şanlıurfa and you for gaining such a hardworking and experienced deputy as Mahmut Tanal," and then added, "The true solid foundation of a marriage is built by the woman. The woman, who is the interior minister of the institution of marriage, must be strong in every aspect..." and concluded my duty by saying, "...the marriage certificate suits a woman, and I am handing over this sacred trust to her." After the signatures, celebrations, and photos, we headed to our tables.

As we sat at our tables, the service had been set and completed. Apart from the plates, forks, spoons, water glasses, and napkins, there were only green three-lobed peppers on the plates. I don't know what it means at a wedding. But an Urfa table is not complete without peppers and eggplant. I remembered that famous Isot anecdote. They say that when people playing games at a coffeehouse in Urfa were warned, "The French are coming... they are attacking for occupation... Oh people, mobilize! Grab your weapons...", they turned up their noses and didn't even move a muscle. However, when they were told, "The French soldiers are trampling the isot fields, plundering and ruining them," they immediately stood up and grabbed whatever they could get their hands on, including weapons, to stand against the occupation. I couldn't help but share this anecdote with you, which shows the importance the people of Urfa place on peppers. The tandoor with almond rice served on a tray was the perfect complement to the table.

I spent two days in Urfa chatting with friends and visiting the Pool of Sacred Fish (Balıklıgöl). Since it was the semester break, the lake was quite crowded. On the last day, we visited the managers and employees of the İzoKem Membrane Factory, which produces important and beautiful work in the Şanlıurfa Organized Industrial Zone. I sincerely congratulate Urfa and the people of Urfa, who have come a very long way in the last 10-15 years.

Thankfully, the company's General Manager, Dr. İbrahim İpek, brought me to Tunceli via Diyarbakır's Çermik district. In the Çermik district, I saw wheat being irrigated on the side of the road. In the middle of winter, there is neither rain nor snow. Wheat fields are being irrigated with sprinklers. I am saddened as I see with astonishment what mankind has done to the world. I want to call out from here: Hey humanity, where are we going? Stop and think for a moment. The polluted atmosphere and changing climates...

While on the road, I was thinking that we would meet our Chairman Özgür Özel at the Elazığ airport, but the news coming in was not encouraging at all. Özgür Özel was sharing with the public that the Hotel Fire Disaster in Kartalkaya was much larger than expected. During its 22-year rule, the AKP government has caused dozens of great tragedies in this country. And it continues to do so. Even though it says "Under the Control and Inspection of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture" in Bolu, 78 people burned to death in a Grand Kartalkaya hotel that had never seen an inspection. The Minister of Tourism and the Ministry are trying to blame others with lies and deceit. Is there no honorable person among you who will resign? 14 people from one family burned to death. Come on, you have no shame or embarrassment. Doesn't it even cross your mind to resign? As a father, as a grandfather, I am rebelling. Be human for once... In what liberal or capitalist system is it possible to market a hotel that hasn't even seen the 'I' of inspection as a 4-star hotel? We will not forget, we will not let it be forgotten. It doesn't work like that; this country cannot be governed with lies and deceit. We will not let it be governed that way.

Wednesday morning, January 22, at 11:00; we are at the grave of Kamer Genç. We commemorated him with longing. The Hero of Munzur, a lover of Turkey who was an opposition all by himself, would take the podium and make the Parliament narrow for you. You would look for loopholes. Turkey cannot surrender to lies and deceit; this nation will not fall for your lies, your intrigues, and your fake reports. We will not surrender this country to those who eat the rights of others.

In Tunceli, at the grave of Kamer Genç, he was commemorated once again by hundreds of people, along with the condolences of our Chairman Özgür Özel. We will continue to do our best through legal means to save Turkey from this government. The people are the greatest power.