Female Deputy Receives President at Parliament, A Landmark in Turkey

On the 4th opening year of Turkey’s 24th Parliament Term, President Gül was received by Ayşenur Bahçekapılı, a female deputy and interim parliament chairperson -- a procedure that set a landmark in Turkey’s parliamentary history.

The event marked a record as Turkey’s president was received by a female deputy for the first time at a parliament term opening. 

Previously, the custom was mostly held with the oldest deputy in the parliament. 

On the ceremony, First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül also showed up at such ceremony and attended the opening session. 

Who is Ayşenur Bahçekapılı?

Born in 1954, Ayşenur Bahçekapılı studied law at İstanbul University. Previously involved with Contemporary Lawyer’s Association (ÇHD), she was an advocate with left tendencies. Later on, she became an executive board member and general secretary of Istanbul Bar Association. She also served as a board member of Turkey’s Bars Union. She worked at  Women-Education-Law workshops as Istanbul representative under the umbrella of Social Democrat Movement Platform. 

In 2007, Bahçekapılı was elected as Istanbul 2nd electoral district deputy for the governing AKP. 

“My candidacy [with an unconventional AKP profile] provoked others to think about their political views [towards AKP]. I certainly believe that O can change some of their colors,” she said upon her election. (ÇT/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.