Atatürk post crisis in Terme leads to resignation

A post targeting Atatürk and Kemalists caused tension in the Terme Municipal Council. CHP filed a criminal complaint, Rümeysa Eker resigned.

Scraper SystemJune 05, 2026, 10:57 AM

In Terme district of Samsun, a post containing insults about Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and 'Kemalists' shared by AKP Municipal Council Member Rümeysa Eker on her social media account drew reactions. The post was also brought up at the Terme Municipal Council meeting, and CHP council member Neslihan Özdemir reacted by reading the post from the podium. Following the post that caused tension, the CHP group left the council hall in protest and filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office. Eker, defending herself by calling it a general inference, accused the opposition of trying to create an agenda. RESIGNATION CAME According to the report by Odatv, following the protests in the council and CHP's criminal complaint, Council Member Rümeysa Eker resigned from AKP membership and Terme Municipal Council membership. POST BROUGHT TO COUNCIL AGENDA: I READ IT WITH SHAME Speaking at the council meeting, CHP council member Neslihan Özdemir reacted by reading the insulting post shared by Eker on her social media account from the podium. Özdemir said, "I read this with shame," and read Eker's expressions to the faces of the council members, stating: "The person who made this post is currently serving in this council. She tried to discredit Atatürk by calling him 'M. Kamal.' You will benefit from the right to vote and be elected that he granted you. First, think about whose nepotism you used and whose rights you violated to get on the list." After the discussions at the meeting, CHP council members left the hall to protest the situation. CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FROM CHP Following the developments, CHP Terme District Presidency filed a criminal complaint with the Terme Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the post. In the petition submitted to the prosecutor's office, it was requested that the post be evaluated and punished under the Law on Crimes Committed Against Atatürk and Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (Incitement to hatred and hostility or humiliation of the public). The CHP provincial organization also called on Rümeysa Eker to resign. CONDEMNATION FROM TKP The Samsun Provincial Organization of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) also issued a written statement on the matter. The statement said, "We condemn Terme Municipality AKP Council Member Rümeysa Eker for the rude and ugly expressions targeting the idea of the Republic and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the independence struggle." The statement emphasized the importance of Samsun in the liberation struggle and included the expressions, "Samsun is the city of liberation. Disrespect towards the values of the republican revolution and its leaders is unacceptable." DEFENDED HERSELF: A GENERAL INFERENCE After the CHP group left the hall, AKP's Rümeysa Eker, who spoke in the council, stated that she stands behind her insulting words. Eker defended herself with the words, "They interpreted it as they wanted to understand. It is a general inference. And it is true. I know this. I have also met leftists who are thoughtful, well-dressed, and fair in every matter. But I think they interpreted it according to their personal interests." THEY DO IT TO CREATE AN AGENDA Eker, who said she did not accept the way her post was reflected to the public and accused the opposition party, completed her statement with the words, "Here, it is also to create an agenda, otherwise it cannot be as they understand. And time will certainly reveal who is right in the end." Council Member Rümeysa Eker resigned from AKP membership and Terme Municipal Council membership. Meanwhile, a surprising staff change was made in Samsun AKP. It was stated that two district heads were dismissed at the same time. According to information obtained by Odatv, the resignations of Çarşamba District Head Ersin Sandıkçı and Terme District Head İsa Baş, who were called to the AKP Samsun Provincial Presidency, were requested.

Atatürk post crisis in Terme leads to resignation

A post targeting Atatürk and Kemalists caused tension in the Terme Municipal Council. CHP filed a criminal complaint, Rümeysa Eker resigned.