Turkey’s Justice Minister says work underway to remove “Turkish” from the name of Doctors’ Association

Turkey’s Justice Minister says work underway to remove “Turkish” from the name of Doctors’ Association
Publish:
A+ A-
Those who are hostile to the Turkish nation and the Turkish state can not work under the roof of organizations which have “Turkish” in their names, Bekir Bozdag said

Turkey’s Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said the ministry started work to remove the word “Turkish” from the name of “Turkish Doctors’ Organization” (TTB) and another professional body of engineers and architects, after President Tayyip Erdogan pledged to do so on Monday. 

TTB Head Sebnem Korur Fincanci was arrested on Wednesday after her remarks demanding an investigation into allegations that said Turkish Armed Forces used chemical agents against PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) militants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

In response to Fincanci, Erdogan said: 

“If necessary, we will ensure that this name is changed by legal regulation. I believe that the fact that such a person, who insults his country and army by speaking in the language of the terrorist organization, is at the head of an institution whose name begins with “Turkish”, disturbs every member of our nation.”

Erdogan said he instructed relevant ministers at the cabinet meeting, to speed up the legislative work on transitioning to a new structure in professional organizations, especially in the Medical Association. 

Bozdag said the ministry of justice started work in this context.

"We are making arrangements for both the Turkish Doctors’ Association and the Turkish Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers. Those who are hostile to the Turkish nation and the Turkish state can not work under the roof of organizations which have “Turkish” in their names, as if insulting the 'Turkish' name. This can not be accepted neither by the Turkish state nor by the Turkish nation. When we finish our work we will present it to our President and the Cabinet,” he said. 

Fincanci made the relevant comments during a live interview in Medya Haber over videos posted on social media allegedly showing PKK militants who suffered chemical attacks by Turkish soldiers. 

"Obviously, one of the toxic chemical gasses was used that directly affects the nervous system," Fincanci said and urged independent missions to investigate the incident within the scope of international treaties.

Following the interview, prosecutors in Ankara launched the probe into Fincancı on the grounds of “disseminating propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation” and "insulting the Turkish nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey and its institutions” and after a court decision she was sent to jail pending trial.