Prominent Turkish industrialist Rahmi Koç sparked widespread public outrage after making controversial remarks about Kurdish women during a hospital inauguration ceremony in İzmir. Speaking at the opening event, Koç recounted an anecdote in which a doctor instructs a Kurdish woman to undress for an examination, to which she responds by telling the doctor to undress first — a joke widely condemned as demeaning and culturally insensitive.
The remarks drew immediate criticism across social media, with the hashtag #RahmiKoçözürdile (“RahmiKoçApologize”) trending on X as users demanded a public apology from the billionaire. Critics argued that the comments reinforced harmful stereotypes and were unbecoming of one of Turkey’s most prominent business figures. Former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım was also present at the ceremony as part of the official protocol.
As of the time of publication, Koç had not issued a public statement addressing the controversy. The incident has reignited broader discussions in Turkey about the portrayal of Kurdish communities in public discourse and the accountability of prominent public figures when making remarks perceived as discriminatory.
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