Kösen, at 2 meters 46.5 centimeters (8 feet 1 inch), said everyone should say “yes” in the referendum for the future of Turkey. “We should support the changes for the improvement of democracy and human rights in Turkey. We should say ‘yes’ at the ballot boxes for Turkey,” he said.
Kösen came to Mardin from Ankara, where he was receiving treatment, to lend support to the Association for the Disabled in Mardin, which also announced that its 9,016 members will say “yes” in the referendum. The association held a press conference over the weekend which was attended by Kösen; Mardin’s tallest man, Necmettin Aktay; Mardin’s shortest man, Mahmut Atasever; Mardin deputy Cüneyt Yüksel; and many locals with disabilities.
Speaking at the press conference, the association’s head, Hasan Anuk, stated the reform package to be voted on by the nation on Sept. 12 also includes changes related to the disabled and brings affirmative action for citizens with disabilities.
On Sept. 12, the nation will vote on a number of constitutional changes approved by Parliament in May. Among other things, the reform package includes changes to the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). Furthermore, the package repeals the Turkish Constitution’s Article 15, which gives immunity to the generals responsible for the Sept. 12, 1980 coup. Article 10 of the amendments would add a single but critical sentence to the legislation: “Precautions taken to protect special groups such as children, the elderly and the disabled cannot be considered to violate the principle of equality.”
He stressed that the affirmative action proposed by the package will eradicate the difficulties faced by the disabled, adding that all of the changes would bring positive outcomes for the nation.
“In fact, we think that the package is insufficient since we think the current coup Constitution should be totally changed. But our motto is ‘Not enough but yes’.”
