There are certain moments in Turkey when there is no debate—only a diagnosis. The moment the phrase “kılıç artığı” is used is precisely such a moment. For this phrase is not a sentence to be interpreted, but a state of consciousness that must be exposed.
This statement is not just an insult.
This phrase means, “You’re actually a remnant that shouldn’t be here.”.
In other words, it is a rejection directed at existence itself.
Therefore, anyone who uses this phrase—whether they realize it or not—is effectively saying:
“Even your right to be an equal citizen is up for debate.”
The fact that Cumhuriyet columnist Mine Kırıkkanat used this expression in reference to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is not a polemic; it is a clear case of mental bankruptcy.
Yes, bankruptcy.
Because a mind that generates thoughts does not attack identity.
Someone with a valid argument has no need for insults.
Someone with ideas does not resort to the language of historical denigration.
Expressions like these are not about thought, but rather, It is the result of a failure to think.
We need to be frank here:
This is not a “slip of the tongue.”.
This is not a “rigidity.”.
This is by no means a “matter of style.”.
This is the unfiltered state of the mind.
And when that filter is removed, this is what emerges:
A reflex of exclusion that has been suppressed for years, glossed over, and masked by the rhetoric of “progress.”.
This is exactly where Turkey’s biggest lie falls apart:
“The lie that ”those who identify as intellectuals are exempt from this language.”.
No, no, no.
On the contrary, this language is often produced most naturally in that context.
Because he doesn't question himself. Because he already considers himself to be “right.”.
That is why this incident is not a scandal.
This incident is a It is a revelation.
And this revelation shows that:
The intellectual sphere in Turkey is not as pristine as one might think.
On the contrary, it is plagued by a profound double standard.
- If the same statement came from “the other neighborhood,” the person would be lynched
- “When it comes to ”us,” people stay silent, brush it off, or put it into context
This is a sign of an ideological, not a moral, reflex.
And let's take it a step further:
This isn't just a double standard—
This is a conscious defense mechanism.
Because that language is preserved.
Because that language is a tool to be used when necessary.
In other words, “kılıç artığı” is not a deviation.
This is a narrative that lies deep within the system but is generally kept hidden.
He goes outside when the time is right.
And when he comes out, he says:
“Equality is a slogan, not an internalized reality.”
That is exactly why this issue is so important.
This isn't just about Mine Kırıkkanat.
But it is a clear example of this decay coming to light.
And at this point, there’s no turning back:
Anyone who uses identity as a basis for humiliation, regardless of their ideology, shares the same mindset.
There is no explanation for this phrase.
This statement is out of context.
This word has only one meaning: exclusion.
And that exclusion is one of this country’s oldest and most vile reflexes.
The System of Denial: Alevis, the State, and Willful Blindness
The language spoken in a country is no accident. That language reveals how the country was founded, how it is governed, and whom it excludes. The fact that an expression like “remnant of the sword” can be used so casually points to much more than mere individual decay. It is the manifestation in language of a systematic erasure.
In Turkey, the Alevis are the clearest example of this disregard.
Alevism has never been fully recognized in this country. It has not been accepted as a faith, its places of worship have not been granted official status, and its demands have been consistently postponed or relegated to secondary issues. This was not a matter of neglect. It was a conscious choice. Because recognition necessitates equality, and equality disrupts the existing hierarchy.
For this reason, Alevism was neither completely disregarded nor fully accepted.
It was set aside. It was put on hold. It was checked.
It is precisely this gray area where hate speech is most easily generated.
Because an unrecognized identity can easily become a subject of controversy.
Anyone who is made the subject of controversy is easily humiliated.
“Expressions like ”the dregs of the sword” take root precisely in this context.
It is impossible to ignore the role of the state here. In Turkey, while secularism claims neutrality in theory, in practice it has become a mechanism that centers a specific understanding of faith. The existence and structure of an institution such as the Presidency of Religious Affairs are the institutional expression of this imbalance.
On the one hand, a powerful, well-funded, centralized religious institution;
On the other hand, a belief that is not legally recognized and is constantly being “defined.”.
This inequality is not merely an administrative issue.
This is purely a matter of mindset.
Because the government has done the following:
Instead of remaining neutral, he took a side.
And this choice has systematically rendered Alevis invisible.
But it doesn't end there.
The most dangerous consequence of this structure is as follows:
Society learns not to take seriously what the state does not recognize.
In other words, disregard it—it comes from the top down.
It begins in the law, then takes root in the language, and finally becomes an everyday reflex.
The “relic of the sword” is precisely the final link in this chain.
That is why this statement, on its own, is not an insult;
It is the distilled essence of a long-standing policy of denial.
Here, it also becomes clear why Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has become a target.
Because what Kılıçdaroğlu is doing isn't just politics.
He has broken through this invisibility.
He has expressed his Alevi identity without hiding it, distorting it, or misrepresenting it. And he has presented this not as a narrative of victimhood, but as a demand for equal citizenship. This is not something commonly seen in Turkish politics.
More importantly, it is what he calls “reconciliation.”.
This word may seem light, but it is heavy. Because it contains the following:
“Mistakes were made in the past, and we need to face up to them.”
This sentence is the biggest taboo in this country.
Because coming to terms with something isn't just about remembering.
It means taking responsibility.
It means to be accountable.
It means stepping out of your comfort zone.
And that is why this call is disturbing.
“Expressions like ”kılıç artığı” are also an outburst of this disorder in the language.
This is not a debate.
This is a defensive reflex.
Imagine a system:
For years, they have ignored, suppressed, and turned a blind eye to it.
Then someone comes along and says, “You’ll get to know me.”.
That’s when the system is shaken.
And a system under threat defends itself not with ideas, but with reflexes.
That reflex is usually this:
Belittle. Demean. Call its legitimacy into question.
“That is exactly what ”the remnants of the sword” means.
No Escape: Accountability, Responsibility, and Inevitable Breakdown
The issue is now clear, and there is no point in beating around the bush.
If an expression like “kılıç artığı” can be used in this country, the problem is not limited to a single writer. The problem is the entire mindset that makes this expression possible, tolerates it, and turns a blind eye to it when necessary.
That's why no one can place themselves on the outside.
- Whoever uses this phrase is responsible.
- The person responsible is the one who downplays this statement.
- Anyone who remains silent in the face of these words is responsible.
Because hate speech grows not only because it is produced, but also because it goes unchallenged.
Mine Kırıkkanat is one example of this. But the issue isn’t limited to her. She represents a moment that reflects this country’s long-standing habit of denial, repression, and avoidance.
And at that moment, it shows us this:
Turkey is still not a country that has fully embraced equality.
Equality here is not a principle, but a slogan.
That is precisely why the stance taken by a figure like Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu provokes such strong reactions. Because that stance disrupts the balance built on denial. It makes the invisible visible. It opens up the indisputable to debate.
And this poses a threat to this system.
But we have now reached this point:
This country will either confront these issues or keep repeating the same crises over and over again.
There is no middle.
Because ignoring it doesn't work anymore.
It's just putting it off.
And everything that’s been put off comes back even harder.
Now Is the Time to Hold Them Accountable
There's no point in talking in abstract terms anymore. The questions must be clear:
- Why isn’t Alevism still recognized as an open and equal faith?
- Why don’t cemevs still have the status of places of worship?
- Why does the Presidency of Religious Affairs speak on behalf of everyone when it represents only one interpretation of faith?
- Why is hate speech treated differently depending on “who says it”?
Any discussion that takes place without answering these questions is a waste of time.
A Clear and Unambiguous Framework for a Solution
This issue cannot be resolved with mere wishes. Concrete steps are needed:
1. Open Recognition
Alevism is not a controversial issue; it should be legally protected as a recognized faith. This matter must be resolved. Delaying it is simply another form of denial.
2. The Status of Cemevis
Cemevis should no longer be a subject of debate and should be recognized directly as places of worship. This is not a matter of “improvement,” but a fundamental right.
3. The Redefinition or Dissolution of the Diyanet
As it stands, the Diyanet violates the principle of equality. It must either undergo a fundamental transformation to encompass all faiths, or the state must withdraw completely from the religious sphere. There is no third option.
4. Real Consequences for Hate Speech
“Expressions like ”Kılıç artığı“ constitute explicit hate speech. There must be consequences for this. It cannot be justified under the guise of ”freedom of expression.”.
5. Official Confrontation
This country must move beyond selective memory. Unless what happened in the past is openly acknowledged, no statement made today can be sincere.
This is no longer a matter of an article, a statement, or a debate.
The point is this:
Does this country really want equal citizenship,
Or will he just stop at saying that?
Because the truth is this:
Ruling by ignoring things may be one approach—
but he can't build a future.
And as long as this fact remains unchanged,
every instance of the phrase “kılıç artığı,”,
not just one person, but,
It will continue to force this country’s unresolved issue upon us.