Turkish ultranationalist leader congratulates Bursaspor fans for racist behavior

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and government-ally, Devlet Bahceli, saluted the Bursapor fans for their racist behavior during the Amedspor match, in a speech in front of his party’s parliament bloc on Tuesday, prompting a response from co-chair of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP).
 
Bahceli refused to acknowledge the name of Amedspor since it is associated with the millennia-old Kurdish name of the city of Diyarbakir, Amed.

 “For us, a place called ‘Amed’ does not exist, and a football team named ‘Amedspor’ will not be talked about [in front of us],” said Bahceli, adding “I want to salute the fans of Bursaspor from here, I congratulate them for their national stance.”

The co-chair of HDP, Pervin Buldan, replied to Bahceli in her speech several hours later. 

“Amed exists and will continue to exist. Amedspor exists and will continue to exist. Amedspor will continue to score goals. It is you who will not exist. It is you who will go away in this election. We will send you [home],” said Buldan.

Fans of Bursaspor football team shouted racist and anti-Kurdish slogans and chants ahead of their team’s bout with Amedspor on Sunday, as well as raising banners of paramilitary individuals responsible for kidnapping and killing Kurds in the 1990s. The Bursaspor players and personnel also physically attacked those of Amedspor before and after the match.

The attack sparked outrage from people all over Turkey, including several political figures in the country.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu called the incident “unacceptable” and stated that an investigation has been initiated against the officials who “showed weakness” in preventing the entry of the controversial posters. Nine people have been arrested over the incidents.

Amedspor players received a warm welcome from avid fans upon their return to Diyarbakir on Monday.

Amedspor has been subjected to several controversies in Turkey for the past few years after it changed its name to reflect the Kurdish name of the city of Diyarbakir, Amed, in 2015.

By Azhi Rasul