Fatih Altaylı calls on Cüneyt Özdemir to 'apologize'! 'If you think it suits you...'

In the media world, the focus of the debate this time was the words used by journalist Cüneyt Özdemir about academic Berk Esen. Özdemir targeted Esen due to his criticisms regarding the framework law prepared within the scope of the second peace process, referred to as a "Terror-Free Turkey," and used the term "bogus academic" for him.

Journalist Fatih Altaylı reacted to Özdemir's words, stating that while Esen's political views and assessments could be criticized, targeting his academic identity was not right.

Altaylı reminded that Berk Esen is an academic working at Sabancı University. Stating that Esen's ideas could be criticized within the context of political debate, Altaylı said, "Calling him 'bogus' is not our place at all."

Altaylı called on Özdemir to re-evaluate the expression he used. Addressing Cüneyt Özdemir, Altaylı said, "My dear Cüneyt, open that speech and watch it again. If you think it suits you, let it stay. But if you don't think it suits you, apologize."

The relevant part of Fatih Altaylı's article is as follows:

"Journalist Cüneyt Özdemir is very angry at academic Berk Esen. He is so angry that he lost his composure and lashed out at Berk Esen, going so far as to label him a 'bogus academic.'

Actually, Berk Esen hadn't said anything that would require such anger.

He just thought differently about the Framework Law and had criticized Cüneyt Özdemir's social media posts in a not-so-deep manner.

Cüneyt Özdemir, for some reason, went crazy and lashed out.

I don't know Berk Esen, but I know him from the screens.

As for Cüneyt Özdemir, I have known him since the day he started his profession in Mehmet Ali Birand's team. He was on Birand's team with names like Can Dündar, Mithat Bereket, and Deniz Arman, and I have never seen him this angry.

That is why, as a journalist who has suffered much from his own anger, I want to say a few things to my friend Cüneyt.

Dear Cüneyt, you are angrier at Berk Esen than necessary.

You call him a 'bogus academic.' Berk Esen may have a thousand sides that can be criticized, and you can criticize him, but you have no right to call him a 'bogus academic.'

If you were to rank 'bogus academics' in Turkey, Berk Esen wouldn't even make the top 100,000, and he wouldn't be at a university like Sabancı University. Furthermore, you are not debating an academic subject with Berk Esen; you are discussing a political issue. You can criticize him, disagree with his opinion, and claim he is wrong. You can even say that his advice to you not to tweet about this subject was wrong and does not suit an academic who defends freedom of thought.

But 'bogus' and such are not words to be used in this matter.

I, too, can criticize the way Berk Esen expresses his political views. I can say that I find him too condescending and too closed to the ideas of others, but this does not prevent me from seeing that some of his predictions are correct and his attitude is courageous. I sometimes see him talking like football commentators, but that is his choice. It doesn't concern us. Despite everything, I find him worth listening to. Sometimes I like him, sometimes I don't. I don't know enough about his academic side to criticize it, so it's not my place. It's not yours either. And calling him 'bogus' is not our place at all.

So, my dear Cüneyt, open your speech and watch it again.

If you think it suits you, let it stay. But if you don't think it suits you, apologize.

If you don't trust me, ask Zeynep."

News Source: 12punto