Mustafa Sarıgül: No one should be presumed guilty because of their surname

Mustafa Sarıgül said he is an elected member of parliament, not a public official, and has no public authority that he uses or could use. He stressed that this distinction should be taken into account.

Sarıgül said having a well-known surname cannot justify discrimination or unfair treatment. “No one should face discrimination or injustice because of their surname,” he said, adding that nobody should be presumed guilty simply for having a recognizable family name.

The remarks came after Sarıgül’s son, Emir Sarıgül, went to the police and surrendered on October 18. In his comments, Mustafa Sarıgül emphasized that he is an elected lawmaker and does not wield public authority, while calling for people not to be treated unfairly or judged in advance on the basis of their surname.