Görkem Sevindik meets Erdoğan after Israel backlash and Ben Gvir threat

ALBAWABA - Görkem Sevindik faces backlash as Erdoğan meeting draws attention.

Actor Görkem Sevindik made headlines with his criticism of Israel's death sentences against Palestinian prisoners. Following Sevindik's statement, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir harshly criticized the actor.

"HE WILL NEVER BE KADIR BABA!"

In his statement, Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "The character Kadir in the 'Eşref Rüya' series will never be Kadir Baba." We live in Israel, and you are acting in a Turkish series. The death penalty is now in effect for terrorists."

Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, Görkem Sevindik ile buluştu:

- “Malumunuz İsrail’i tehdit etti”
Erdoğan: “Haberim yok.” pic.twitter.com/OEXPRJYuPc

— Vaziyet Haber (@vaziyethaberi) April 25, 2026

SUPPORT FROM MINISTER NURI ERSOY

Following these developments, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy also expressed his support for Sevindik, emphasizing the artist's humanitarian stance and stating that responding with threats was unacceptable.

ERDOĞAN MEETS WITH GÖRKEM SEVİNDİK

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Görkem Sevindik at a Quran memorization graduation ceremony in Istanbul. During the ceremony, Sevindik addressed President Erdoğan, saying, "How are you, Mr. President?"

Bugün kıymetli dostum Görkem Sevindik ile Cumhurbaşkanımız Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ı hafızlık icazet töreninde bir araya getirme fırsatı yakaladık.

Son dönemde İsrail kaynaklı rahatsız edici tavırlara karşı güçlü duruşumuzu ortaya koyarken, birlik ve dayanışma mesajımızı da… pic.twitter.com/jBWXpnSdCN

— Nurullah Mert Kahyaoğlu (@nmkahyaoglu) April 24, 2026

"NO, I DIDN'T KNOW."

Erdoğan responded to Sevindik's words by saying, "No, I didn't know." After congratulating Sevindik, Erdoğan continued with his program after a brief conversation.

Finally, it was learned that Görkem Sevindik met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Quran memorization graduation ceremony. Sevindik was introduced as, "As you know, he was threatened by Israel... He was in the news recently; he was on the agenda." Erdoğan's response was, "No, I didn't know." Sevindik, asking, "How are you, Mr. President?" inquired about Erdoğan's well-being.

Actor Görkem Sevindik had reacted to Israel's death sentences against Palestinian prisoners. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had also targeted the Turkish actor. Minister Ben-Gvir stated, "Kadir from 'Eşref Rüya' will never be Kadir Baba. We live in Israel; you act in Turkish series. The death penalty is now valid for terrorists. " Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy met with Sevindik and said, "We stand by the humanitarian stance shown by our esteemed artist Görkem Sevindik. It is absolutely unacceptable to respond with threats to a call that rises from the common conscience of the world."