Turkish poet’s tomb vandalized

Poet Can Yücel’s grave in southern town Datça was vandalized by some people the day after AKP local head Ahmet Sedat Deniz condemned the pouring of wine on his grave.

The grave of Turkish poet Can Yücel was vandalized Friday, leading some to accuse the government’s local branch head of inciting the act through his criticism of people who poured wine over the writer’s tomb during a recent ceremony.

The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has been spreading the seeds of hatred in society and is killing tolerance, the head of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, Muğla branch, Murat Tevfik Ülkü, said Friday. The poet’s resting place was reportedly desecrated with a sledgehammer early Friday.

The poet’s resting place in “the graveyard of tolerance” – so called because of the number of people from various religions buried there – was reportedly desecrated with a sledgehammer early Friday in the southwestern province of Muğla’s Datça district.

Datça Mayor Şener Tokcan said he was very sad to see such an incident in Datça given the noted societal harmony in the area.

During a commemoration ceremony being held for Yücel on the 12th anniversary of his death on Aug. 12, a group of people poured win on the poet’s grave, saying the ritual was in accordance with the departed’s wishes. The act was later criticized by local AKP head Ahmet Sedat Deniz.

Speaking Friday to the Hürriyet Daily News, Deniz denied that his rebuke of the wine-pouring incident incited the vandalism, saying, “I reproach the incident, but there is no connection between the vandalism and my recent statements.”

Yücel never asked people to pour wine on his graveyard, Deniz was quoted as saying by Doğan news agency, or DHA, on Thursday.

Noting that the sign placed by the poet’s family in front of the graveyard said, “Please do not place anything except flowers,” Deniz said, adding that the AKP administration was not fighting against the consumption of alcohol.

“People can drink alcohol whatever they want, they can become drunk,” said Deniz, but added that they would raise their voice against people who insulted “traditions and morals” through their actions.

“In order to prevent these kinds of actions, we will do everything and track the steps of officials on the issue,” Deniz said.

The poet’s daughter, Su Yücel, also said the family did not approve of people pouring wine on her father’s graveyard. “However, the response cannot be given like that, Are they trying to kill my father second time?”

She asked whether the people responsible for the vandalism would be happy if the same thing were to happen to their relative’s grave.


/Hurriyet Daily News/