‘Kurdistan’ Statement by AKP’s Binali Yıldırım

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Ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Metropolitan Mayoral candidate for İstanbul Binali Yıldırım, who used the expression of "Kurdistan" at his election rally in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır, has answered the questions of journalists regarding the issue.

"Kurdistan is a word that was used by Ghazi (Veteran) Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to refer to representatives coming from the region during the struggle of independence before the Republic was founded", Binali Yıldırım has clarified his Kurdistan remarks.

Speaking at an election rally in Diyarbakır on June 6 ahead of İstanbul repeat election, Binali Yıldırım stated that among the ones invited by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk during the establishment of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) was "also a deputy of Kurdistan."

In a speech that he held in Turkey's eastern province of Erzurum in February 28, 2019, President and AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lastly stated, "In my country, there is no region called Kurdistan."

'Don't try to otherize Kurds'

Attending the 48th Cheese Bread Festival organized by Federation of Elazığ Associations and Fındıkzade Association for People of Elazığ yesterday (June 9), Yıldırım answered the questions of journalists as follows:

"The PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) is a terrorist organization. If anyone has any doubts about it, let them react against it. Kurdistan is a word that was used by Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to refer to representatives coming from the region during the struggle of independence before the Republic was founded. My expression is nothing more than that.

"The people living on each and every inch of this country are our first-class citizens. No one should otherize or separate the Kurds. We are like flesh and bone. We cannot be separated from each other. We have lived on this soil together for thousands of years, we have shared a common fate.

"Just to spite everything, we will be one, we will be together, we will be brothers and sisters and we will lead a free and independent life under our flag with star and crescent. I am saying it loud and clear."

Yıldırım has agreed to attend a live TV program with Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu to answer the questions of journalists. However, the details of the program have not yet been specified. (AS/SD)