Former PM Binali Yıldırım Explains Laughter at Controversial 'Kurdish Woman Joke'

Rahmi Koç, an elder of Turkey's wealthy Koç family, has apologized after a joke he told at the opening of İzmir Amerikan Hastanesi, referred to as a 'Kurdish woman joke,' sparked outrage. The incident took a turn when former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, present at the event, was seen laughing at the joke.

Yıldırım broke his silence following the controversy, explaining that he did not understand the joke's content at the time. He stated he laughed out of politeness because others around him were laughing. Yıldırım emphasized that he would never tolerate disrespect towards Kurdish citizens.

Despite Yıldırım's explanation, 16 bar associations from Turkey's eastern and southeastern regions have filed a criminal complaint. The complaint targets both Rahmi Koç for his remark and Binali Yıldırım for his reaction of laughter.

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I did not understand what he said there. When those around me laughed, I laughed out of politeness. I would never tolerate any disrespect towards our Kurdish citizens.