News / Foreign Policy

Ankara mayor denounces US State Department spokeswoman as ‘stupid blonde’

Friday, 01 May 2015 2:09 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 01 May 2015 3:55 PM ]

US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf

The mayor of Ankara, the capital of Turkey, has referred to US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf as a “stupid blonde” for her silence over the Baltimore riots despite Washington’s repeated criticism of Turkey during anti-government protests in 2013.

Ibrahim Melih Gokcek condemned Harf on Wednesday for being “silent” about US police brutality and the violent crackdown of protesters rallying against the death of Freddie Gray, who was killed while in police custody.

Gray died on April 19, a week after an encounter with police that left him with grave spinal injuries. Authorities have not explained how or when his spine was injured.

The majority black city has been the site of daily demonstrations since Gray's death, as tensions simmer over police brutality and discrimination against African Americans.

"Come on blonde, answer now!" Gokcek wrote in English as well as Turkish on his Twitter account, sharing an image of a Baltimore police tackling a protester alongside a picture of Harf.

"Where are you stupid blonde, who accused Turkish police of using disproportionate force?" he added in a caption.

Harf refused to respond to the insults, saying: "I really don't think I'm going to dignify them with a response."

A wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Turkey began in May of 2013, initially to contest the urban development plan for Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park.

Nationwide demonstrations spread across Turkey against the ruling Justice and Development Party and then prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently the country’s president, with police using water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets against the demonstrators.

On Friday, US ambassador to Turkey John Bass hit back at the Ankara mayor, posting a picture of himself with his normally brown hair turned blond.