Tuncer Bakırhan clarifies remarks following political controversy

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan has issued a clarification following controversial remarks regarding the ‘Alevi Intellectuals Declaration’. Bakırhan addressed his previous comment about ‘bringing people from the street to make them members of parliament,’ stating that his phrasing did not fully convey his intended meaning. He explained that his words were meant to signify bringing the voices and struggles of people from the streets into the center of politics, rather than demeaning anyone.

Bakırhan also defended his stance against certain interpretations of the Alevi identity in recent political debates, asserting that he stands by his criticisms of the declaration. He noted that some groups seek to create friction between Kurds and Alevis.

In response to Bakırhan’s earlier criticisms of the declaration’s signatories, former HDP MP and former Minister of Development Müslüm Doğan issued a rebuttal. Doğan, who signed the declaration, responded via social media, noting his own background in street struggles and his history as a founding member of the HDP. The controversy stems from the declaration, signed by 53 Alevi intellectuals, which rejected certain political references attributed to Abdullah Öcalan in alleged meeting minutes.