Meral Akşener: We won’t let İstanbul Convention be crushed by a couple of cowards

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener spoke at the weekly group meeting of her party at the Parliament today (July 14).

In her speech, Akşener touched upon a series of current issues, including the opening of Hagia Sophia to worship as a mosque, the firework factory explosion in Sakarya and recent debates about Turkey's possible withdrawal from the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as İstanbul Convention.

'Turkey not ruled by a mindset valuing human life'

Referring to two firework explosions that took place in Sakarya province within a week, Akşener said, "Unfortunately, Turkey is not ruled by a mindset that values human life, it is ruled by an unserious understanding."

CLICK - Explosion at a truck carrying fireworks waste: 3 soldiers die

Referring to the coal mine explosion in Soma in 2014 and train derailment in Çorlu in 2018, among many other massacres that claimed the lives of people in Turkey in recent years, Meral Akşener noted, "The chain of irresponsibilities that claim the lives of our people still continue."

"Just as they did it in the face of previous sorrows, they acted as if no such sorrow had taken place. They have shrugged off the incident. While the necessary precautions should have been taken and the fireworks waste should have been disposed accordingly, they sent our sons to the debris of a factory where an explosion occurred and a fire broke out.

"They appointed our soldiers with carrying explosives from the debris in that heat. When will you come to your senses? What kind of an irresponsibility is that? What kind of an unseriousness is that? Who will answer for these soldiers? How will you look the families of our martyrs in the eyes?"

'Let Hagia Sophia be closed to politics'

Akşener also referred to the reconversion of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque and its opening to worship last week.

CLICK - Hagia Sophia handed over to Presidency of Religious Affairs

Welcoming the decision in her speech, Akşener said, "An expectation of our nation has been fulfilled. May this have a good outcome."

Further in her speech, Akşener noted, "OK, may this have a good outcome, but let me reiterate a warning that I have previously made: May Hagia Sophia be opened to worship, but be closed to politics."

"I expected Mr. [President and ruling AKP Chair] Erdoğan to welcome the demands and support coming from our nation and every fraction of politics with common sense and in a way that would unite people," Akşener said and added, "He could not do it, again."

'Why are you bothered with İstanbul Convention?'

İYİ Party Chair also stated the following about the recent debates about Turkey's possible withdrawal from İstanbul Convention:

"The sorrows of our women are growing with each passing day. But they, instead of developing solutions, are adding insult to injury and discussing withdrawal from İstanbul Convention. They did something right once in a lifetime and they are now giving up on it.

"I would like to ask them from here: While the situation of our women is obvious and while there is still so much to do, why are you taking a step back? What is it that bothers you about İstanbul Convention?

"İstanbul Convention says that 'necessary legal precautions shall be taken so that all types of discrimination against women can be prevented.' Is it what bothers you about İstanbul Convention?

"İstanbul Convention says that 'the state shall develop effective and comprehensive policies that will prevent violence against women.' Is it what bothers you about the Convention?

"İstanbul Convention says 'the necessary funds and human resources shall be provided to prevent violence against women.' Is it what bothers you?

"The Convention says, 'A struggle needs to be waged against the prejudices suggesting that women are inferior to men.' Is it what bothers you?

"You should all know this: İstanbul Convention is valuable for our women and we don't and we won't let this convention be crushed by a couple of cowards." (AÖ/SD)