Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that his party will continue their juridical investigations into the Turkish Medical Association (TBB), and targeted Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, the chair of TBB, in his speech regarding the 99th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic on 28 October in Ankara.
The chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spoke about and elaborated on the Century of Turkey Vision, a set of goals for his party’s election manifesto that explains the main objectives for the country in 2023, the year which will mark its centennial.
Speaking to the party members, Erdoğan said that they have been fighting against “terrorist groups” by legitimising its cross-border military operations.
In his speech, Erdoğan said that they will continue to implement juridical processes on the TBB and they will change its name.
“I believe that this person [Şebnem Korur Fincancı], who speaks the language of the terrorist organisation [PKK] insulted her country and army,” said Erdoğan.
“Necessary steps will be taken regarding both this person and the institution, according to the results of the investigation conducted by our Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the decisions of the courts,” added Erdoğan.
Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı has been targeted many times and jailed over her comments on Turkish troops’ alleged use of chemical weapons against Kurdish fighters in Iraq.
Erdoğan also said that his government have been standing with ethnic and religious minorities and that they have been fighting against polarisation.
“We stood by everyone and compensated their losses. We supported the struggle of Muslims who were excluded, Kurds who were subjected to separatism because of their language, Alevis who were oppressed because of their idiosyncrasies, Christians and Jews who were victimised,” Erdoğan said during his speech.
Erdoğan made this speech as the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which gained more than six million votes in the last election, is facing a closure case and many of the party MPs are still in Turkish prisons.
Erdoğan had previously said during an election campaign “Some called me a Georgian. Others called me even, excuse me, an Armenian in a shameful way. I am a Turk!”. He had added “Kılıçdaroğlu [Republican People Party leader], you are Alevi and I’m Sunni. Say it. And Demirtaş [imprisoned Kurdish politician], you are Zaza. Don’t be scared of saying that.”
Erdoğan also mentioned his hope that they have prepared a constitutional amendment proposal that will protect the traditional family institution in Turkey from the threat of outsiders, referring to the LGBT+ community.
Turkey celebrates every 29 October as the anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
