‘Ministry admits restricting the right to transport of citizens with disabilities’

* Photo: State Railways of Turkey (TCDD)

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Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu has answered the Parliamentary question of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Eskişehir MP Utku Çakırözer regarding the restriction of disabled citizens' right to use transportation free of charge in the High-Speed Train (YHT) and other main intercity train lines in the country.

In his answer to the MP's question, Minister Karaismailoğlu has admitted that the citizens' right to free transportation has been restricted and they are sold train tickets for a fee. According to the Minister's answer, an average of 100 thousand people with disabilities used the YHT free of charge in a month before the pandemic while this number has sharply dropped to an average of 120 in a month during the pandemic.

From 100 thousand to 241 in a month

As reported by Mert Bildircin from daily BirGün, Karaismailoğlu has referred to some statistics in his answer to the Parliamentary question.

These statistics have shown that 782 thousand 650 citizens with disabilities used the YHT free of charge from July 29, 2019 to July 28, 2020. The number of citizens with disabilities who used the YHT free of charge was only 241 between May 28 and July 28, 2020.

Accordingly, while an average of 100 thousand people with disabilities used their right to free transportation in a month before the pandemic broke out in Turkey, this number was 241 in total in June and July.

'A right granted by law cannot be denied'

CHP's Çakırözer has argued that the answer of the Minister to his Parliamentary question is full of controversies.

"He says 'We have restricted the disabled citizens' right to free transportation' in one paragraph and says 'People with disabilites can travel by buying free tickets' in another," Çakırözer has protested and added:

"At last, he says, 'They can buy tickets for a fee based on their own statements.' Why would a brother or sister of ours with disabilities who has the right to use transportation free of charge buy a ticket for a fee?"

* Utku Çakırözer

The MP has added, "Because you have restricted that right. Our citizen who has to get on that train and travel has to pay for a ticket even though he or she has the right to free travel. The right to free travel granted by law to our citizens with disabilities cannot be denied in an arbitrary way like this." (PT/SD)