04.02.2026 16:53
The statement made by Nevim Baş from the AK Party in the Turgutlu Municipal Council, claiming that headscarf-wearing women gained the right to be elected thanks to President Erdoğan in 2013, sparked controversy. Mayor Çetin Akın reacted by reminding that it was Atatürk who granted women the right to vote and be elected.
In the ordinary meeting of the Turgutlu Municipal Council in February, AK Party member Nevim Baş stated, "Yes, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk granted the right to vote and be elected to women. I congratulate women without headscarves. I celebrate their day. However, the right to be elected was granted to me by our President on October 31, 2013," he said.
"BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS, PEOPLE..."
The speech of AK Party council member Nevim Baş regarding the right to vote and be elected for women caused discussions in the ordinary meeting of the Turgutlu Municipal Council in February. Baş said: "I would like to commemorate the February 28 process, which is referred to as a postmodern coup in the history of Turkish democracy, and remind once again the traces this process has left in our social memory. It is a period when people were excluded because of their beliefs, the right to education of young people was hindered, 600 thousand headscarf-wearing students were deprived of education for 10 years, and 11 thousand teachers were dismissed. Today, while commemorating February 28 here, speaking as a female council member who can take the floor with a headscarf at this podium is a silent but powerful indication of how far our country has come. I would like to express my gratitude to our esteemed President, who has dedicated his life to the reconstruction of social peace that February 28 tried to undermine, and I respectfully commemorate all the women and citizens who were victimized during this process, emphasizing once again that we will continue to defend democracy, human dignity, and the will of the nation under all circumstances."
"I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY IF YOU HAD MENTIONED MUSTAFA KEMAL"
Mayor Çetin Akın, after Baş's speech, said, "I would have been much happier if you had mentioned Gazi Mustafa Kemal, who granted the right to vote and be elected to women, just once."
"OUR PRESIDENT GAVE ME THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE ELECTED"
Responding to Mayor Akın, Baş said, "Yes, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk granted the right to vote and be elected to women. I congratulate women without headscarves. I celebrate their day. However, the right to be elected was granted to me by our President on October 31, 2013," he said.
"KNOW THE HISTORY AND THEN SPEAK"
In response, Mayor Çetin Akın said, "There is no bread coming out of here anymore; you are very funny. Know the past, know a history, and then speak. I wish you would say something about retirees, or say something about the livelihood problems of tradesmen; I wish you would say something about this country, which is sunk in the quagmire of drugs and bribery. I wish you would take the floor and touch the bleeding wounds of society. I wish you would explain what you said was wrong yesterday and what you say is right today," he expressed.