Akşener slams Erdoğan for targeting Prof. Buğra: ‘Mind your manners’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener delivered a speech at the weekly Parliamentary group meeting of her party today (February 9).

Addressing a series of issues in her speech, Akşener also talked about ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's remarks about Prof. Ayşe Buğra.

CLICK - Prof. Buğra 'regrets' Erdoğan's accusations

Amid the ongoing protests against the appointed rector of Boğaziçi University, Erdoğan made a speech on February 5 and targeted Buğra, an academic at Boğaziçi and the spouse of Osman Kavala, a businessperson and a rights defender who has been arrested for more than three years.

"The wife of the person who is called Osman Kavala and is the representative of [George] Soros is among these provocateurs," he said.

'We are sick of your ignorance'

Addressing her party members against the backdrop of these remarks, Meral Akşener briefly said the following about the issue:

"What did he say about Prof. Ayşe Buğra, who is one of the most precious scientists of both Boğaziçi University and Turkey? He said, 'She is the wife of a person who is almost the representative of Soros in Turkey.' Mr. Erdoğan, you do not have much to do with science or research.

"Above all else, Ayşe Buğra is a very precious academic who has very precious works and world-renowned research. In addition to several other fields, she has made significant contributions to literature with her works analyzing the relations between the business world and state in Turkey."

"Moreover, Ayşe Buğra is also the daughter of late Tarık Buğra.

"Tarık Buğra is the author of the famous novels adapted to television series for the [state channel] TRT and telling the nation about its ancestors and the spirit of national struggle to the full.

"Perhaps, you don't know it with your ignorance that we are now sick of. But, Mr. Erdoğan, above all else, you are talking about a woman, a scientist. You need to mind your manners! You need to behave yourself!

"The President of this country cannot turn a woman who did scientific research into a target. It is a shame, it is a sin! Stop doing politics by turning people into a target. Mr. Erdoğan, with this attitude, you are jeopardizing social peace. This is not a good way." (DŞ/SD)