Ali Fethi Okyar Quotes
I will not dip my hands in blood by choosing unnecessary violence.
Some Kurds had revolted and formed their own army. Fethi did not want to use force to disarm the militia. The assembly voted against him, causing his resignation. Force was used and the militia was disarmed.
Ali Fethi Okyar, 1880-1943, Prime Minister of Turkey, The Rey Statement, March 2, 1925
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood had won the first democratic election, but they proceeded to use their majority to deny rights to others. Massive demonstrations against the government, with the Egyptian military support deposed the Brotherhood President and government. The Brotherhood then took to the streets, demonstrating against the ousting of their elected government. After more than a week of constant demonstrations and the blockage of many streets, the new military appointed government authorized the police to clear the streets. Some of the Brotherhood were armed and killed over 40 police and several hundred demonstrators were also killed with each side blaming the other for “starting” the violence. The vice president was a strong opponent of the Muslim Brotherhood and supported and called for the ousting of their undemocratic, albeit elected, government. However he also supported their right to protest in the streets and condemned the use of force.
Ali Fethi Okyar was a Turkish diplomat and politician, who also served as a military officer and diplomat during the last decade of the Ottoman Empire. He was also the second Prime Minister of Turkey (1924–1925) and the second Speaker of the Turkish Parliament after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
