12.02.2026 18:05
The leader of the İYİ Party, Müsavat Dervişoğlu, visited Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş Akgün, who was targeted due to her traditional attire, at her office. In his statement here, Dervişoğlu said, "I was very hurt that the issue has been brought to this point based on gender, beliefs, and clothing." İYİ Party member Mehmet Emin Korkmaz had targeted Akgün with the remarks, "Is it the duty of this woman in trousers to manage the district, or to milk cows in her barn?"
Good Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu made a surprise visit. He came to Mihalgazi district of Eskişehir and visited the Mayor Zeynep Güneş Akgün, who was targeted due to her traditional attire, in her office.
Welcomed by Mayor Akgün and AK Party Eskişehir Provincial Chairman Gürhan Albayrak in front of the municipality, Dervişoğlu proceeded to the office and met with Akgün.
SURPRISE VISIT FROM DERVİŞOĞLU
Expressing that these posts and statements harm social unity, Müsavat Dervişoğlu said, "As much as it harms, it also leaves negative traces in our future. There are responsibilities that need to be taken on to prevent those traces from being experienced, to not be etched in our memory. Today, our visit is a very pleasing situation for us, both in terms of visiting you and the presence of the esteemed AK Party Provincial Chairman Mr. Gürhan here, and I thank you very much. We expressed our sadness in the phone call we had last week.
We also pointed out that such things should not happen. Furthermore, if we cannot show sensitivity in preserving customs and traditions today, we will not be able to leave a legacy for the future. From this perspective, our visit today is the fulfillment of a responsibility. I thank you again for your hospitality, kindness, and generosity," he said.
PREVIOUSLY RESIGNED FROM THE PARTY
Stating that İYİ Party member Mehmet Emin Korkmaz, who targeted Akgün with the words "Is the duty of this woman in traditional dress to manage the district, or to milk cows in her barn?" was expelled from their party, Dervişoğlu said:
"What a madman did... This friend had already resigned from our party and returned four days later. In fact, if the procedure had been applied, the ability of someone who resigns to become a member again depends on the decision of the Provincial Presidency. That decision does not exist; we saw it when we referred it to the Disciplinary Board. In fact, we could have said 'He is not even our member,' but ultimately he does not hold any title either. He is just a regular member, but in those online posts, everyone writes the title they want for themselves. I was very hurt that the issue was brought to this point through gender, beliefs, and clothing. Therefore, we developed a common decision that we need to take action without wasting time with our friends."
"YOUR PRESENCE MADE ME VERY HAPPY"
Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Güneş Akgün said, "A guest is a guest of God; you always have a place above our heads. Politics is an institution where different thoughts should be conducted in a pot. If this process were different, it would be much more beautiful, but there are people in Anatolia, and we show our existence in this way. Whether he is a member of the İYİ Party or not; we cannot know that, but it was not very elegant. I hope you do not keep such people among you. Your presence made me very happy; thank you," she said.
“YOU HAVE DONE YOUR PART AS İYİ PARTY”
AK Party Eskişehir Provincial Chairman Gürhan Albayrak also stated, "As the İYİ Party, you have done your part in this matter. The fact that a madman has brought up some issues inevitably saddened us. Our Mihalgazi district is truly a place that showcases Anatolian culture and wisdom very well. It is a small district, but of course, it is a district with big-hearted people, a producing district. The actions taken against our district Mayor deeply saddened us.
It saddened Turkey deeply, and of course, what did the truly appreciative people of Turkey do? They stood by our esteemed Mayor, embraced her heart, and took her in. The people of this country, our women fought in the War of Independence. They did it just like this, with their white headscarves, with their traditional dresses. That culture has always been managed and carried by this district. And at this point, I hope our country does not experience such troubles again," he said.
“WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT”
After the speeches, Müsavat Dervişoğlu, who met with Zeynep Güneş Akgün and Gürhan Albayrak, left the municipality. Dervişoğlu, who was seen off by Mayor Akgün to the door, said, "Thank you all very much. May God be pleased with you. Our mayor hosted us. The esteemed Provincial Chairman of the Justice and Development Party also accompanied us. We were treated as if we were in our own home, as if we were in our own hometown. On this occasion, I also thank the people of Mihalgazi. For the love they did not withhold from us; our good prayers, our common hometown. We will continue to fight for the unity and togetherness of this country," he said.
On the other hand, during Dervişoğlu's visit, İYİ Party Secretary General Ayfer Dinçer, Deputy Chairman Responsible for Media and Promotion Selcan Taşçı Hamşioğlu, Head of Corporate Relations Şükrü Kuleyin, Balıkesir Deputy Burak Dalgın, Deputy Chairman Responsible for Women and Family Policies Kevser Ofluoğlu, Eskişehir Provincial Chairman Serdar Ulucan, and General Administrative Board (GİK) Member Melih Aydın accompanied him.