It was an unforgettable moment when Emma Ricou came forward to the stage with her parents, husband and two children to receive the Order of the Legion of Honor, the highest decoration that any citizen of the country can receive. The day was memorable not only for Emma Ricou who was the target of discrimination in her professional life but also for her parents who were willing to risk everything to give their daughter a certificate of citizenship despite being citizens of another country. However, their decision did not sit well with President de Koster (VP of the Labor Party in Turkey), who accused the couple of “vilification of their country”.
On the other hand, the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland, Enda Macarelle, said that the couple had made a “unfallen trust” and added that he hoped their marriage would be able to heal the divisions that had affected their country and their hearts. The country’s two leading politicians, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Emergencies Minister John O’Brien, also expressed their support for Emma Ricou and her family. However, the country’s largest newspaper, the Irish Times, published an editorial on the day of the ceremony, which described the ceremony as a “sympathy stunt” carried out by Emma Ricou and her mother. The paper went on to say that Ms Ricou is a “model citizen” who has nothing to be ashamed of and that her parents had been “very worthy recipients of this honour”.
The public relations campaign carried out by the Irish government in the weeks following this episode was unprecedented, as the first attempt to dispel the negative press about the couple having emigrated to Ireland had barely been reported. However, in response to criticism from the Irish media, Ms Ricou issued a statement saying that the members of her immediate family were not “emigrating” or “taking away” anything from her. Her spokesperson added that the “appropriate channels” would be used to deal with any future problems regarding the family, including the two children.