Burger King row in AKP: 'I wish it had never opened'

Following the events at the Burger King opening in Rize, AKP Rize Provincial Chair Yılmaz Katmer defended the mayors. Katmer, who responded to criticisms with a poem by Mehmet Akif Ersoy, faced a harsh reaction from Yeni Şafak columnist İsmail Kılıçarslan.

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Burger King row in AKP: 'I wish it had never opened'

A Burger King branch that opened in Rize in recent days has become the center of controversy.

While AKP mayors and local officials attended the opening, Lecturer Dr. Kemal Sağlam, who arrived in front of the branch an hour before the event, chanted “Down with Israel.” Sağlam was subsequently attacked by several people in the vicinity and was taken to the emergency room for treatment. Sağlam, who suffered a broken nose, a ruptured eardrum, and bruises on various parts of his body, filed a complaint against his attackers.

'I WISH THE OPENING HAD NOT TAKEN PLACE'

Following the incident, AKP İyidere Mayor Saffet Mete stated that the attack did not take place during the opening and that he did not witness the situation himself. Mete stated that he attended the opening at the invitation of the business owner and said, "A smear campaign is being waged against us."

Statement from Katmer with Mevlana and Mehmet Akif references. AKP Rize Provincial Chair Yılmaz Katmer made statements regarding the events, responding to criticisms with words from Mevlana and a poem by Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

Katmer said: "First of all, I wish that opening had not taken place. We are against violence. My answer to those who label us as 'servants of Israel' is this: Mevlâna says; 'My silence is from my nobility. I have an answer for every word, but I look at the word to see if it is a word, and I look at the speaker to see if they are a person.' Mehmet Akif says, 'I cannot act as a hunting dog for a few degenerates. Especially in the name of justice, I cannot bow to injustice even if I were to die.' This is my answer to all these criticisms."

'WE STAND BEHIND OUR FRIENDS'

Defending the mayors who attended the opening, Katmer said, "We stand behind all our friends. It is impossible for any of our friends to be seen as pro-Israel. Have a blessed Friday."

HARSH REACTION FROM KILIÇARSLAN

"Political Degeneracy" A harsh response to Katmer's statements came from Yeni Şafak columnist İsmail Kılıçarslan. Reacting to Katmer's use of a Mehmet Akif poem to respond to criticisms, Kılıçarslan said, "This is exactly what 'political disgrace' is," and called for Katmer to be removed from his post.

In a post on his social media account, Kılıçarslan wrote: "I don't know what the AK Party is waiting for to dismiss the AK Party Rize Provincial Chair, who dares to call everyone who criticizes the AK Party members who attended the Burger King opening 'degenerate' through a Mehmet Akif poem, along with the mayors who attended the opening. This is pure political degeneracy."

A 'Wish' Post from Birinci. A statement on the subject also came from former AKP MKYK member Mücahit Birinci. Birinci said on his social media account, "The people of Rize are insightful, most are intellectuals. I hope we do not remember our Rize with negative examples."