Gov’t ally far-right BBP calls Saturday Mothers 'terrorist propaganda'

Duvar English

Mustafa Destici, leader of the Turkish government ally and far-right Great Unity Party (BBP), on Dec. 3 called the Saturday Mothers’ protest “terrorist propaganda” during a “Women’s Rights on the Republic’s Centennial” panel. 

The Saturday Mothers convene every Saturday at the Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to demand the fate of their relatives who disappeared under custody and the prosecution of the perpetrators since 1995.

Police heavily intervened in the protests and detained protesters for the majority of 2023, until Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya publicly disapproved of the constant repression in mid-November.

BBP leader Destici said in his speech that families of terrorist organization members were reframed and kept under the spotlight as “victims of unidentified murders” for over 25 years. 

Destici’s speech also slandered main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel for kissing Kurdish opera singer Pervin Chakar’s hand after a performance. 

“He [Özgür Özel] kisses the hand of a terror-defending, so-called artist instead of the mothers of our fallen soldiers, and brazenly defends his actions," the far-right leader stated.

Referring to the Kurdish feminist movement, Destici said, “In our country, communities that have dominated public discourse for years with their ‘women’s rights defender’ identities did not extend any rights to anyone outside of their ideological frame.”

Destici had previously opined about all-women hospitals and universities, and blamed their opponents for being “hostile to faith and religion.”