Video post by Bahçeli's right-hand man Yönter draws backlash

On the day 12 soldiers were martyred in northern Iraq, a social media post accompanied by music shared by MHP's İzzet Ulvi Yönter drew significant backlash.

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Video post by Bahçeli's right-hand man Yönter draws backlash

Turkey was plunged into mourning by news coming from the Operation Claw-Lock region in northern Iraq. The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced that 12 soldiers were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during search operations for the body of Martyr Infantry First Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt in the region.

While the successive tragic news caused great sorrow across the country, numerous figures from the worlds of art, sports, and politics published messages of condolence.

POST BY MHP'S YÖNTER CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF THE DAY

However, a post made on that day of tragedy was met with public backlash. MHP Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP İzzet Ulvi Yönter published a video on his official X account featuring singer Haluk Levent playing the guitar and singing.

Yönter added the following note to the video:

“To my brother, songwriter Bora Ülker, and our friend Haluk Levent who performed it, I convey my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to them all.”

While Yönter did not appear in the video in question, the timing of the video and the message drew significant criticism.

STEPPING BACK AFTER THE BACKLASH

Yönter's post spread rapidly on social media. Numerous users pointed to the news of the 12 martyrs on the same day and reacted to Yönter's post, calling it a “timing scandal.” Some users described the sharing of such content on a day when news of martyrs was arriving one after another as “insensitivity.”

Following the rising backlash, İzzet Ulvi Yönter deleted the post.