The Izmir prosecutor’s office in Turkey has launched an investigation into Rahmi Koç, a well-known 95-year-old Turkish billionaire and honorary chairman of Koç Holding — the country’s largest business conglomerate — following a controversial joke about a Kurdish woman that has sparked widespread condemnation from the public and the political class, who consider the comments sexist and racist.
The investigation was launched after a video circulated on social media in which Koç, during the June 5 inauguration of the American Hospital of Izmir, told a humorous anecdote about a “Kurdish patient” to members of the official delegation, including former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, while showing them the hospital facilities during the building’s opening ceremony.
In the video, the businessman is seen telling the anecdote — the beginning of which cannot be heard — and concluding by saying, “The doctor listened to the Kurdish woman’s problem. When he told her, ‘Ma’am, go behind the curtain and undress,’ the woman replied, ‘Doctor, you undress first,’ ” Koç said with a laugh, implying that the woman had interpreted it as a sexual proposition.
Criticism over an offensive and racist comment against women
Critics, in addition to considering the comment totally inappropriate, point out that the alleged anecdote portrays the Kurdish woman as a ridiculous figure, incapable of understanding what is expected of her in the doctor-patient relationship and alien to modern institutions, while also making insinuations related to the female body and nudity.
In addition to being seen as a joke in poor taste, critics also highlight the use of degrading humor typical of a bygone era directed against the Kurds, in this case using a woman as a punchline —a practice considered deeply offensive in Turkish society and especially among the country’s Kurdish population. Finally, the fact that this highly unfortunate comment was made during the inauguration of a hospital has only served to further fuel the controversy.
Justice Minister announces investigation into Koç
After the video went viral, thousands of social media users were quick to label the Turkish businessman’s comments as offensive and humiliating to Kurdish women, and reactions skyrocketed to the point where the hashtag #RahmiKoçÖzürDile (#RahmiKoçApologize) became a trending topic. Members of the protocol who laughed at the joke or remained silent were also the target of public criticism online.
According to reports by Turkish media, the opening of the investigation against Koç by the prosecutor’s office was announced by Turkey’s Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek, himself, who explained that the proceedings stem from the use of “expressions directed against women and citizens of a specific ethnic identity.” “Justice is never measured by anyone’s wealth, position, or status; the judiciary consistently defends human dignity and the rule of law,” the minister emphasized.
Kurdish nationalists demand a public apology
Koç’s statements were also condemned by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and by the Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, as well as by Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Kurdish nationalist party DEM, whose co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan demanded a public apology from the businessman.
“I condemn the racist remarks by Rahmi Koç that humiliate Kurdish women,” Bakırhan stated. “This language is unacceptable. Women’s bodies, identities, and dignity are not subjects for jokes. No status or privilege can humiliate Kurdish women. We do not accept this behavior and expect an explicit apology.”
Protests and armed attacks against Koç Holding interests
In the wake of this incident, the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadi” (“Woman, life, freedom” in the Kurdish language) was projected under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge — the second bridge crossing the Bosphorus Strait — near a Koç family mansion in Istanbul. In addition, at least two armed attacks targeted companies belonging to Koç Holding.
The first of the attacks occurred on June 6, when two hooded individuals fired at the headquarters of the automotive company Otokoç in the Maltepe district of Istanbul. Two bullets struck the building, though the attackers were arrested the following day. Likewise, on June 8, shots were fired at the shutters of a Yapı Kredi Bank branch in the city of Diyarbakır, located in southeastern Türkiye, where the majority of the population is of Kurdish origin; in this case, bank employees detected bullet holes in the windows and alerted the police, who are examining security camera footage to try to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators of the shooting.
In the face of growing criticism from the public and the political class over the controversial joke about the Kurdish woman, Rahmi Koç — whose fortune amounts to $2.4 billion according to Forbes magazine — published a brief apology in which he assured that his words “were not intended to target any particular group.” “I sincerely wish to express my regret,” said the billionaire, who, as a result of the investigation opened by the prosecutor’s office, could face a sentence of between six months and three years in prison; however, given his advanced age, if convicted, his sentence is likely to be commuted to house arrest or a substantial fine.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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