Rahmi Koç sparks controversy at İzmir Municipality Council meeting

Tensions flared at the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Council meeting when the focus shifted to remarks made by Rahmi Koç, honorary chairman of Koç Holding, during the opening of Izmir American Hospital. The controversy ignited when AKP council member Latif Aydemir presented a written motion, referencing Koç's "Kürt kadın hasta fıkrası" (Kurdish woman patient joke).

“

We shouldn't immediately lynch them. We need to look at what kind of person they are, how they have lived from the past to the present. It's clear he misspoke unintentionally. He then apologized. He didn't say anything he stood behind.

Aydemir, who himself faced criticism in November for stating "Some women, as well as most men, are guilty of dying," questioned Mayor Cemil Tugay about whether he would issue a condemnation. Tugay, however, turned the tables, reminding Aydemir of his own past controversial statements.

Tugay stated that Koç's remarks were inappropriate and that he had apologized. He suggested that Koç's words might have been an unintentional mistake, lacking malice. "People can sometimes say wrong things without calculating where their words are going, without knowing, without carrying bad intentions," Tugay said. "We shouldn't immediately lynch them. We need to look at what kind of person they are, how they have lived from the past to the present. It's clear he misspoke unintentionally. He then apologized. He didn't say anything he stood behind."

“

I expect your condemnation too while defending women's rights. I condemn the American hospital and Rahmi Koç. Shame on him, he'll apologize like a ram.

Following Tugay's remarks, Aydemir insisted on his condemnation of Koç and the hospital, stating, "I expect your condemnation too while defending women's rights. I condemn the American hospital and Rahmi Koç. Shame on him, he'll apologize like a ram." Tugay again reminded Aydemir of his own November statements, questioning if he had apologized. Aydemir dismissed this, stating, "Our topic is Koç," drawing criticism from CHP council members.

“

Our topic is Koç