Admission from AKP's Şamil Tayyar regarding the veterans' protest: Reaction from IYI Party

The protest initiated by families of fallen conscripts and conscript veterans who came to Ankara from 81 provinces of Turkey, demanding equal personal rights, continues.

The veterans, who have been seeking an interlocutor for days, are being blocked by the police from marching to the relevant ministries. Most recently, during the intervention at Kurtuluş Park, IYI Party Bursa Deputy Selçuk Türkoğlu, who came to support the veterans, was assaulted. Türkoğlu fell ill and was taken to the hospital.

"NO MATTER HOW CONTRARY THEIR DEMANDS ARE FOUND..."

Former AKP deputy Şamil Tayyar made a striking statement on his social media account regarding the veterans' protests.

Admitting that they have not managed the process well, Tayyar said, “I am of the opinion that no matter how contrary their demands are found, or even if it is thought that the opposition is exploiting the protest, they have more right to speak than anyone else.” he stated.

Tayyar included the following remarks in his statement:

“Families of fallen conscripts and conscript veterans have been protesting in Ankara for some time.

The protest areas are constantly being changed, and sometimes scuffles occur.

I must express with regret that I think we have not managed this process well.

I am of the opinion that no matter how contrary their demands are found, or even if it is thought that the opposition is exploiting the protest, they have more right to speak than anyone else.

They buried their loved ones and parts of their own bodies in the soil for this homeland, and those who remained continued their lives half-complete.

Leave them alone or embrace them with affection.”

Families of fallen conscripts and conscript veterans have been protesting in Ankara for some time.

The protest areas are constantly being changed, and sometimes scuffles occur.

I must express with regret that I think we have not managed this process well.

No matter how contrary their demands are found, the opposition's exploitation of the protest...

— Şamil Tayyar (@samiltayyar27) August 25, 2026

REACTION FROM LÜTFÜ TÜRKKAN TO ŞAMİL TAYYAR

Reaction to this post by Şamil Tayyar came from IYI Party Kocaeli Deputy Lütfü Türkkan. Reminding that Selçuk Türkoğlu was assaulted, Türkkan said, “This friend of ours has a heart condition; it could have been the end of his life.”

Drawing attention to the silence of Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, Türkkan called on Tayyar with the words, “Can you give a guarantee that what happened to an IYI Party deputy today will not happen to an AK Party deputy tomorrow, after this insolent attitude of the police? I want to hear you say a few words about this as well.” he said.

Mr. Şamil Tayyar, my esteemed friend, you were also a deputy in the past, and there was a period when we served together.

Yesterday, an IYI Party Bursa Deputy, Selçuk Türkoğlu, who was only there to support the veterans, was assaulted by the police.

This... https://t.co/AnRyzIFfcL

— Lütfü Türkkan (@LutfuTurkkan) August 25, 2026

News Source: 12punto