Erdoğan, Bahçeli target Turkish Medical Association head over 'chemical attack' remarks

Photo: AA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli continued targeting the head of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) because of her comments about the allegations that Türkiye used chemical gases during its military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Speaking after a cabinet meeting yesterday (October 24), Erdoğan said, "The necessary steps will be taken concerning both this person and the institutions according to the results of the investigation the chief prosecutor of Ankara is carrying out and the judgements of the courts."

Commenting on the allegations for the pro-Kurdish Medya Haber TV, Şebnem Korur-Fincancı had said independent organizations should investigate the claims.

"I have examined the videos. Obviously, toxic gasses that directly [affect] the nervous system have been used," she had remarked, referring to the videos of two PKK members who had allegedly been exposed to chemical weapons. The videos showed a man having a seizure and a woman showing delirious behavior.

She later criticized Medya Haber TV for misrepresenting her remarks, explaining that what she meant was caling for an independent investigation.

Shortly after her statement, prosecutors opened an investigation into Korur-Fincancı for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the state of the Republic of Türkiye and its institutions."

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"I believe that it annoys each person of our nation that such a person despicably slandering own country and army, speaking the language of the terrorist organization is the chair of an institution the name of which starts with 'Turkish'," Erdoğan remarked.

He further said he had given instructions to the related ministers to accelerate the legislative work in order to "move our professional organizations to a new structure," particularly the TTB.

Bahçeli touched on the issue at his party's parliamentary group meeting today, calling for the revocation of Korur-Fincancı's citizenship.

"I think it is of historical importance that the heaviest penalties are imposed on both the chair and central committee members of the Turkish Medical Association, that this association is shut down, and that obligatory membership to this organization for doctors be canceled and thus our doctors be freed.

"The citizenship of those who throw mud at the Turkish soldier using the language of betrayers and blood shedders, for example the chair of the Turkish Medical Association and others should be revoked, they should be condemned to being dislocated apatride and stateless, this is one of the most reasonable path to follow."

TTB: We stand with truth

The TTB on October 21 released a statement, criticicing those who targeted its chair.

"We are following that Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, the Chair of the Central Committee of the Turkish Medical Association is being targeted following her statements on her area of expertise," it said.

"Şebnem Korur Fincancı has always stood by life and keeping people alive, and against arms and violence. So the broadcasting policy and the presentation language of the channel and what our colleague has stated are not connected.

"We do not accept that Şebnem Korur Fincancı should be targeted for her statements which do not target any special institution or body, and which express the scientific method to be used in order to bring out the truth." (PE/VK)