‘Live quietly like a donkey or get out!’ Turkish official’s tweet sparks debate

ISTANBUL

İlhami Yıldırım suspended his account following reactions and then protected his tweets.

The Red Crescent has launched a probe after the organization’s head in Istanbul tweeted a controversial message regarding the death of a protester on May 23.

“Either you will live in this country quietly like a donkey or you will get the hell out,” İlhami Yıldırım, who is also the brother of former Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım, tweeted on May 22, following the death of Uğur Kurt, who was shot by a stray bullet while attending a funeral service during clashes in Istanbul’s restive Okmeydanı neighborhood.

Yıldırım suspended his account following reactions and then protected his tweets.

The General Directorate of Red Crescent launched an investigation into Yıldırım’s conduct.

Two investigators will present a report to the organization’s board after hearing Yıldırım’s testimony.

“I can in no way accept the messages on social media. We have always defended the unity and solidarity of 77 million people. Doing so is a civil duty,” former minister Binali Yıldırım said regarding his brother’s tweets, while conveying his condolences to the family of Uğur Kurt.