İYİ Party Chair Akşener: Art has been the latest phobia of the government

* Photos: Muhammed Yaylalı - Ankara / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener spoke at the weekly group meeting of her party today (February 23). The meeting was also attended by the family of Gülistan Doku, who has been missing for 782 days.

Addressing the Doku family, Akşener said:

We wish we could host you in much better conditions. We wish we could host you together with Gülistan. But, unfortunately, we cannot. Unfortunately, she has been missing for over 2 years. If a young university student, a young woman has been missing in the country for 2 years, we cannot say that women are safe. We cannot prevent femincides. We cannot say 'Stop' to violence against women. None of us can live in peace in the country if we cannot protect women.

Calling on the Minister of Justice and Minister of Interior to fulfill their duties about the incident, Akşener said that they, as the İYİ Party, would make all types of contributions to ensure that a Parliamentary investigation commission is set up and the incident is brought to light.

Tarkan's new song 'This shall pass'

İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşaner also talked about Tarkan's song "Geççek" (This shall pass), which has especially been embraced by the opposition due to its lyrics while it is criticized and faced with accusations by some pro-government media outlets and ruling party politicians.

Referring to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Meral Akşener said, "The phobia of the AK Party government, which has preferred disregarding all accumulations of our Republic, has been the art in the recent period. This has become an obsession now."

Criticizing the government for "judging, targeting and threatening artists at every opportunity", Akşener briefly said:

"As you know, a few days ago, Tarkan released a song. A hope-inspiring song which says that these bad days that we go through shall pass and be left behind. But for some reason, some are offended.

"This is such a weird mentality that they cannot even tolerate a song that says 'These bad days will pass.' There is no curse or insult, but hope in the song. But these friends are even allergic to hope.

"In fact, it is quite normal that they cause trouble when Tarkan says 'This shall pass.' Because they want it to never pass, to never end.

I would like to address the government from here. Everyone is free to perform their art in Turkey. Some may make joyful music, some may make protest music. Some may praise, some may criticize. What you are supposed to do is to respect them like late [former Presidents] Özal and Demirel. So simple...

"Instead of pestering the artists of this country or the music listened to by this nation, do your own job. Strive to solve the problems of this country, strive to solve the troubles of the nation. So that you can do at least one favor for this nation at your last minute...

"Because, sooner or later, that ballot box 'shall come'. You may whine or cry all you want, this monstrous system that you have afflicted the nation with 'shall go away' as it came in the first place. Like it or not, this trouble 'shall end.' When the İYİ Party is authorized, this nightmare, which you have deemed our nation worthy of, 'shall, of course, pass.'

"Don't worry, we are almost there! Believe me; we are almost there to finally have sunny days and hopeful tomorrows."

CLICK - Who says what to Tarkan's new song 'This shall pass'?

(AS/SD)