Presidential Chief Advisor Oktay Saral reacts to 'Black Friday': It is a day of abundance

Oktay Saral stated that necessary legal and administrative steps should be taken against Black Friday.

Black Friday is a shopping event held on the first Friday following Thanksgiving in the US, known worldwide for its discounts.

A notable criticism has come from Presidential Chief Advisor Oktay Saral regarding the Black Friday campaigns, where companies offer discounts, held worldwide on the fourth Friday of November each year. Saral stated that Black Friday does not align with our traditions and that necessary legal and administrative steps must be taken.

"BLACK FRIDAY" CRITICISM FROM OKTAY SARAL

Saral included the following statements in a post on his social media account:

It is absolutely unacceptable for some stores to turn the sanctity of Friday, which this nation has considered blessed for centuries, into advertising material under the name of "Black Friday."

"ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL STEPS MUST BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY"

This mentality, which disparages the abundance and spirituality of Friday and erodes our values for the sake of commercial gain, aligns with neither our traditions nor the sensitivities of our society. I state clearly here: Necessary administrative and legal steps must be taken immediately against those who target the nation's spirituality with these cheap marketing tactics.

"FRIDAY IS NOT BLACK, IT IS A DAY OF ABUNDANCE FOR THIS NATION"

Oversight mechanisms must be activated, and necessary sanctions must be applied to those who deliberately use this term. Friday is not black for this nation; it is a day of light, mercy, brotherhood, and abundance. No one has the right to overshadow or tarnish this.

I invite the authorities to protect the sensitivities of our nation, and I invite businesses to come to their senses and stop mocking our values."

It is absolutely unacceptable for some stores to turn the sanctity of Friday, which this nation has considered blessed for centuries, into advertising material under the name of "Black Friday."

This mentality, which disparages the abundance and spirituality of Friday and erodes our values for the sake of commercial gain, aligns with neither…

— Oktay SARAL (@oktay_saral) November 27, 2025

WHAT IS BLACK FRIDAY?

Black Friday is the name given to the first Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States. This day is traditionally considered the official start of the Christmas shopping season and is a major shopping event where retailers offer the year's biggest discounts, campaigns, and special deals.

Although it originated in the US, it has been adopted in many countries around the world today, including Turkey, and has turned into a global phenomenon associated with major discounts. The origin of its name is associated with financial records of stores that showed losses (red) throughout the year turning into profits (black) on this record-breaking sales day, making it the most important commercial day of the year.

News Source: 12punto