Majority supports Ottoman sultan’s name for third Bosphorus bridge: AKP poll

ISTANBUL

Yavuz Sultan Selim will become the second sultan to have his name grace a Bosphorus bridge.

A survey conducted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has revealed that 60.9 percent of respondents supported the government’s decision to name Istanbul’s third Bosphorus bridge after “Yavuz Sultan Selim,” daily Sabah reported. 24.1 percent responded negatively to the move while 15 percent of respondents did not give any opinion. A total of 5,135 people reportedly participated in the poll.

The name of the bridge was announced as “Yavuz Sultan Selim,” one of the most prominent sultans in Ottoman history, by President Abdullah Gül during a ceremony in May. The planned name has caused controversy as the sultan, known in English as “Selim the Grim,” is known for the slaughter of around 40,000 Alevis. Alevi associations criticized the decision and asked Gül to name the bridge after Yunus Emre, who embraced both Alevis and Sunnis to signal unity, warning the name planned for the bridge under construction could create more conflict in Turkish society.

Yavuz Sultan Selim will become the second sultan to have his name grace a Bosphorus bridge.

Almost half of the respondents against coup in Egypt

According to the poll, 49.1 percent of respondents are against the military coup in Egypt, while 10.4 percent supported it.

“What do you think about Egypt’s overthrown President Mohamed Morsi?” was another question in the poll, and 22.2 percent responded positively while 21.9 percent’s response was negative. A total of 55.9 percent of respondents remained impartial.

38 percent against UEFA’s Fenerbahçe decision

Some 24.6 percent supported UEFA’s decision to ban Fenerbahçe from all continental competitions for two years, while 38 percent were against it.

A total of 40.9 percent of respondents also said they were against Beşiktaş’s one-year suspension by UEFA as supporters of the decision totaled 19.1 percent.

Fenerbahçe was charged after some of its board members allegedly attempted to manipulate games in the 2010-2011 Super League, while Beşiktaş was charged for its officials’ alleged attempts to fix the 2010-2011 Turkish Cup final, which the Black Eagles won on penalties over Istanbul BB.