‘Because They Stole’ Statement by Yıldırım: I Had to, I Cannot Express Myself

* Photograph: Binali Yıldırım / Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish

Binali Yıldırım, ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) candidate for the Metropolitan Mayoral elections in İstanbul, has spoken about his comment "Because they stole", which he made after the İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoral elections were annulled on May 6.

Binali Yıldırım has said, "I had to, because there was an operation to create a perception. I cannot express myself."

Speaking to İsmail Küçükkaya from FOX TV this morning (May 28), Yıldırım commented on his "Because they stole" remarks in following words:

"I had to do it. Why did I have to do it? Because there was an operation to create a perception. I mean, it is not a legal term, we are aware of that."

Küçükkaya: So, did you say it in colloquial language?

Yıldırım: Yes. There are the İstanbulites, which suffered the biggest unlawfulness, there is me and I cannot make my voice heard. I cannot express myself.

Küçükkaya: So, is that why you took such a path?

Yıldırım: Of course.

'I said "We won" to prevent demoralization'

Declaring that he won the İstanbul elections at the night of March 31, Binali Yıldırım answered a question regarding this statement as follows:

"There was a need for this statement. Because, otherwise, our friends at balloting committees would have been demoralized. The friends tested it on simulation and said, '98 percent of them [ballot boxes] have been opened. They [results] will not change after that.' I made this statement. If it is a mistake, then, it is my mistake."

Where did "Because they stole" come from?

After the Supreme Election Council (YSK) annulled the İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoral elections on May 8, AKP's candidate Binali Yıldırım was asked in a video "Why were the elections in İstanbul annulled?"

Yıldırım answered, "Very simple. Because they stole." This answer became a trending topic on Twitter under the hashtag #ÇünküÇaldılar (Because they stole) as well as a matter of harsh debate.

The video of Binali Yıldırım was spread on the Internet by the pro-AKP media and similar videos, including the ones featuring children, were also shared under the hashtag #ÇünküÇaldılar.

CLICK - Ekrem İmamoğlu: They Campaign by Making Children Say 'They Stole'

Mayor-elect of İstanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose certificate of election has been revoked after the annulment of İstanbıl elections, responded to these videos in following words:

"Do you know what is more terrible? They are running a campaign by making 3- or 4-year-old children say 'They stole.' They are doing this to those innocent, bright children. What is mayorship to me, anyway? I am, first of all, a father of three children. Do not ever take advantage of these children! I am sorry, I am really sorry, shame on you!"

CLICK - 'They Look at Voters' Appearances; If Seems Like Voting for AKP, They Don't Give Voting Papers'

Yıldırım continued making similar comments and, speaking at a fast-breaking meal on May 18, he explained the "method of stealing votes" by saying:

"The balloting committee chairs looked at the voters, and she/he did not give the voting paper to those who seemed like to vote for AKP. We know this from the complaints that were received on the election day."

(AS/SD)