Ankara Medical Chamber probes sexist remarks of physician Edizer

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University of Health Sciences (SBÜ) Gülhane Training and Research Hospital (former GATA) Deputy Chief Physician Ali Edizer made a statement on social media and called on men to "take second spouses."

After this video was widely shared on social media on October 4 and caused a public outcry, he was dismissed by the Ministry of Health.

The Ankara Medical Chamber has announced that it has launched an investigation against Dr. Ali Edizer over his social media posts that he shared while he was still the deputy chief physician of the hospital.

What happened?

University of Health Sciences (SBÜ) Gülhane Training and Research Hospital (former GATA) Deputy Chief Physician Ali Edizer made a statement on social media and shared his views about Turkey's Civil Code as well as the principle and practice of monogamy stipulated by the law.

Indicating that "yet another marriage shattered due to cheating," Edizer alleged that "a man could get a second spouse as Islam allowed it."

Ali Edizer's remarks caused public outrage. In response to this outrage, he made another statement and defended what he had said.

Among the ones who denounced his remarks were politicians, journalists and lawyers. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Özgür Özel shared a message about the issue on his social media account and said that "he informed Health Minister Fahrettin Koca about the disturbance of both his party and the general public in the face of Edizer's remarks."

Noting that Minister Koca also expressed his unease about the statement of Edizer, Özgür Özel stated that the Minister said the necessary would be done about the issue. "We will follow it up," Özel stressed.

Shortly afterwards, it was announced that Dr. Ali Edizer was dismissed from his duty over his remarks. (EMK/SD)