14.02.2026 13:00
A heated debate occurred between AK Party and CHP members following a question about the Cemevi in the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Council. The words of the session chair, Zinnur Büyükgöz, increased the tension, and after mutual insults, the parties confronted each other. The tension spilled out of the hall and turned into a physical altercation.
The discussion that started with the question of the Cemevi at the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality's February council meeting ended with harsh words and physical altercations.
THE MEETING WAS CHAIRED BY THE MAYOR OF GEBZE
Due to the absence of the Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın in Ankara, the meeting held at the Kocaeli Congress Center was chaired by Zinnur Büyükgöz, the AK Party Mayor of Gebze. In the two-session meeting, 162 agenda items were decided.
THE CEMEVI QUESTION TENSED THE ENVIRONMENT
At the end of the meeting, CHP Council Member Ahmet Kadı asked when the Cemevi would be built in Gebze. AK Party Council Member Hasan Soba responded, "Mr. Ahmet, you are being unfair. We just opened a Cemevi in Derince. You are creating an image as if we are against the Cemevi."
"DON'T TREAT HIM LIKE A MAN"
Following these words, CHP member Erkan Uygun stood up to protest. The tension in the council rose with responses from the AK Party ranks. As the discussion escalated, Zinnur Büyükgöz, who was chairing the session, increased the tension by saying, "Don't treat him like a man" regarding Uygun.
THEY RUSHED AT EACH OTHER
Erkan Uygun stated that he did not take back his words and responded to Büyükgöz, "You are rude." As the parties rushed at each other, the environment became chaotic. While CHP council members left the hall, the discussion moved to the council corridors and turned into a physical altercation.