Turkish far-right city councilor threatens mayor with Gray Wolves

Duvar English

During a meeting of the Seyhan District Municipality council in Adana province on Aug. 6, far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) council member Şeyhmus Uçar threatened main-opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Mayor Oya Tekin, saying, "If we bring our friends from the Grey Wolves here, there will be no place left for you in the Seyhan Municipality."

Grey Wolves is an ultra-nationalist youth branch of the government’s ally MHP and has been using violent methods against ethnic minorities and leftists. The group was outlawed in France and has been under surveillance in Germany.

During the municipality council meeting, MHP Councillor Uçar took the floor and made statements targeting and threatening Mayor Tekin. 

"I represent the Nationalist Movement Party here. Know this. You will be careful with your words. Do not exceed our tolerance limits. If we bring our organizations and our friends from the Grey Wolves here, there will be no place left for you in the Seyhan Municipality,” he stated.

Following Uçar’s remarks, Mayor Oya Tekin responded, “What do you mean by bringing in the Grey Wolves? Is this place a free-for-all? The Grey Wolves are our youth living in this country, just like the CHP youth and the AKP youth. What are you trying to do? We are discussing matters here. What do you mean by bringing them in?”

Tekin also shared a video of the incident on her social media account, stating, "Can a politician treat the youth group of the party they represent as a threat? We will stand firm against those who use the language of violence and conduct politics not with fists, but with our minds, our work, and our words. We will not divide anyone."

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