Billionaire Mustaf Rahmi Koç // Van Gazetesi photo
The case is under Article 216 of the Turkish Criminal Code on public humiliation of a part of the population. The reason is a video of the speech that went viral on social networks and in the media.
According to Haberler, it is about the honorary chairman of Koç Holding Mustafa Rahmi Koç. The incident took place at a hospital opening ceremony in Izmir, where he told a joke with references to a Kurdish woman. The joke was based on the female gender and Kurdish ethnicity, as well as doctor-patient confidentiality. The recording provoked strong reactions and accusations of discriminatory overtones.
After the outburst of criticism, Rahmi Koç apologized, saying he had not intended to offend anyone.
The situation immediately went to the political level. Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said that wealth and status do not affect responsibility before the law, and discriminatory remarks are unacceptable even in the format of a joke.
Omer Celik, a representative of the ruling party, also called any form of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or gender unacceptable.
It is noted that Koç Holding remains the country’s largest industrial group with assets in energy, automotive and finance.
Rahmi Koç’s fortune is estimated at about $2.4 billion, according to Forbes as of June 6. Over the day it decreased by $21 million.
