AKP proposal locks the doors on municipal student dorms! Free rein for religious sects...

The AKP, which has begun implementing the 'City Restaurant' service initiated by CHP municipalities in its own municipalities, is now preparing to block the path of municipal dormitories, which are of vital importance for students facing housing problems.

According to a report in Sözcü, a new legislative proposal prepared by AKP deputies Mustafa Oğuz and Mevlut Kurt and submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) terminates the authority of municipalities to open and operate student dormitories.

MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY REMOVED, RELIGIOUS SECTS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN PERMITS AND OPEN DORMS

Article 31 of the legislative proposal submitted to the TBMM stipulates that opening and operating permits for places providing private housing services will be determined by the relevant ministries. The Ministry of National Education will be authorized for middle and high school level dormitories, while the Ministry of Youth and Sports will be authorized for university-level dormitories. These ministries will be able to delegate their powers to governorships. The authority of municipalities to provide housing services for students will be completely abolished. The status of existing dormitories will be determined by regulations to be issued after the law enters into force. Furthermore, religious sects that obtain permission from the ministry will be able to open and operate dormitories.

ERDOĞAN'S STATEMENTS

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated in his speech to his party's parliamentary group on May 14 that new regulations regarding municipalities were being worked on. If the proposal is accepted, the permit and licensing powers in the Metropolitan Municipality Law, the Municipality Law, and the Provincial Administration Law will no longer apply to student dormitories. The dormitories opened by municipalities as a solution to the student housing crisis have been meeting a significant need in recent times.