Woman's viral rant against Şanlıurfa men sparks official probe

A video circulating on social media has ignited a fierce debate in Turkey after a woman, identifying herself as from Şanlıurfa, unleashed a torrent of criticism against the city's men and its social structure. The woman expressed deep anger over what she described as a "slave mentality" prevalent in the city, directing harsh words at the men and families of Urfa.

"Urfa's men are cursed men, Urfa's mothers are cursed mothers. Their mentality is rotten. Their mentality is bad," she stated in the video. She elaborated that girls born into Urfa families are treated as slaves, responsible for all household chores and serving their male relatives without appreciation. She claimed that men in Urfa are raised to believe they are royalty, pampered by their mothers and families, while women are expected to serve them.

Her frustration culminated in the shocking declaration, "I want to burn this city down." The intense rhetoric has prompted official action. The Şanlıurfa Governorship issued a statement acknowledging the video's content, which they deemed targets the region's social and family structure and could negatively impact public order by fostering hatred and enmity. Consequently, legal proceedings have been initiated against the social media account holder.

Adding to the official response, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Şanlıurfa has also launched a formal investigation. The probe is being conducted under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, which addresses "inciting hatred or enmity or degrading the public" based on the woman's inflammatory remarks. Investigations revealed the user who posted the video is not a public official and resides abroad.