Just Say "I Do". No Jokes, Please.

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(HaberTürk Newspaper, 23 April 2018)


Couple hoping Ali Akça is on leave next time.

In Manisa, after dating for 9 years Hatice Koşman and Turgut
Dinçer Güneri sat at the marriage table the day before yesterday.
However, when asked by the presiding municipal official "Do
you take this man to be your lawful husband?", Hatice hanım
replied jokingly "No cannot be said. Yes, of course!"

Official Ali Akça, though, asserted that he was bound by law
to accept Hatice hanım's first word, which was "no".  Akça
canceled the ceremony and could not be persuaded to change
his decision.  Dejectedly, Hatice hanım returned to her father's
house. 

Would-be groom Turgut Bey related that "en route to the
ceremony Hatice said she wanted to make a surprise.  She had
seen on Youtube that such jokes were popular but the official
didn't like the joke.  I didn't even get a chance to say anything.
We had 50-60 guests there.  We'll get another date on Tuesday.
All the money we spent went for nothing."  Hatice hanım has
promised not to make any more jokes at the next ceremony.

As for Akça, he stated that "it shouldn't have happened. It
was quite unpleasant.  We note the first word that comes
from the mouth of the participants and it was "no". You can
say "yes" a thousand times after that but it doesn't matter.
This is the first time I've encountered such a situation in 6
years of presiding.  But I don't regret my decision.  My
wife and relatives support me - they heard about it on the
news. I did what the law requires.  Couples should not
joke at the marriage table."