Bülent Arınç sparks political row at Ahmet Davutoğlu’s son’s wedding

Bülent Arınç Melih Gökçek Ahmet Davutoğlu Turkish politics political dispute

A political dispute has erupted following a wedding ceremony for Mehmet Davutoğlu, son of former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. During the event, former TBMM Speaker Bülent Arınç delivered a speech in which he praised Davutoğlu’s dignified conduct during a recent legal investigation but sharply criticized former Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek. Arınç, without naming Gökçek directly, criticized his behavior while attending a prosecutor’s summons, stating he watched with shame as the politician was “chewing gum loudly.”

Melih Gökçek responded via social media, accusing Arınç of hypocrisy for supporting Davutoğlu, whom Gökçek claims has made defamatory statements against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his family. Gökçek argued that Arınç’s decision to applaud Davutoğlu while criticizing him shows a lack of political morality.

The controversy expanded when Presidential Advisor Oktay Saral criticized Arınç, stating that a wedding ceremony is not a political platform and that turning a celebration into a venue for political reckoning lacks statesmanship. Additionally, Fatih Mayor Ergün Turan expressed disapproval of Arınç’s remarks, noting that political messages should not be delivered at private events like weddings or funerals.

Entities

Ahmet Davutoğlu · Bülent Arınç · Haliç Congress Center · Haliç Kongre Merkezi · Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu · Melih Gökçek · Oktay Saral · Recep Tayyip Erdoğan · Özgür Özel

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] CHP Leader Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu did not greet each other at the wedding.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Bülent Arınç criticized an unnamed politician, implied to be Melih Gökçek, for his conduct during a prosecutor's summons. www.tv5.com.tr
[● 2 SOURCES] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was invited to the wedding but did not attend. www.odatv.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Bülent Arınç expressed support for Ahmet Davutoğlu's political stance. www.tv5.com.tr · www.odatv.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Bülent Arınç described Ahmet Davutoğlu's decision to testify to a prosecutor as a noble behavior. www.tv5.com.tr · www.odatv.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The wedding ceremony was held for Mehmet Davutoğlu and Ravza Öğüt at the Haliç Congress Center. www.odatv.com