Only Two Disabled Deputies in Parliament

According to June 7, 2015 general elections results, the parliament failed again at representing disabled people.

12.29% of Turkey’s population, i.e. 9 million people are disabled in the country but there are only two disabled female deputies in parliament.

Şafak Pavey from Republican People’s Party (CHP) was elected for the second time from İstanbul province.

Physically handicapped Bennu Karaburun from Justice and Development Party (AKP) was elected from Bursa province.

In previous term, there were three disabled members in the parliament: two from AKP (Gürsoy Erol and Abdurrahim Akdağ), one from CHP (Şafak Pavey).

* Mehmet Doğan Kubat from AKP was known as a disabled person in previous term since he had a deficiency in one of his feet. Nevertheless, we exclude him because he hasn’t got any medical certificate of handicap and he doesn’t see himself as a disabled person. (NV/BD)

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