AKP's Zengin and Free Cause leader Yapıcıoğlu will run in the same electoral district

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Having stood at two opposite sides of the argument on Law no. 6284 on preventing violence against women, Özlem Zengin of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), and Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, the leader of the Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR) will be running for MP in the elections on the same list in İstanbul's 3rd electoral district.

Zengin, who was targeted by the Islamist circles because of her statement about the Law where she said, "Law no.6284 is our red line," is on the second rank in the list while Yapıcıoğlu who wants the same law to be canceled is on the fourth rank.

Zengin who will be running for MP again had previously said, "We are very alone. Nobody wants to talk about this issue because you become a target. I do not want to say anything about this law anymore. I am tired. I am also tired because of my loneliness. I feel sorry when I see the situation our community is in. I did not say that it [the law] could not be discussed. Only if we could discuss this in a more humane, decent, and Islamic environment."

The ruling alliance supporting incumbent Erdoğan in the presidential elections, the People's Alliance, consisted of the AKP, the MHP, and the Great Unity Party (BBP) until previous months.

The Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR), an Islamic political party strong in some Kurdish-majority provinces is one of the three political parties that joined the People's Alliance recently. 

Other than the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the candidates for MP of five smaller parties in the alliance have been nominated on the AKP lists. MHP opted to run on its separate lists in all 81 provinces.

The presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in Turkey on May 14. (EMK/PE)