Removal of Erdoğan's quote from Barrier-Free Life Center sparks debate: In Üsküdar Municipal Council

The Üsküdar Municipal Council meeting was held at the municipality's service building under the chairmanship of Deputy Council Speaker Ali Aral.

AKP Group Deputy Chairman Dündar Ziya Gültekin stated that, within the scope of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Üsküdar Municipality opened Turkey's most comprehensive Barrier-Free Life Center in 2018.

Expressing that the center they opened has been an inspiration to many municipalities both domestically and abroad, and that they have seen similar ones, Gültekin said:

"At the entrance of the Barrier-Free Life Center, it was written: 'It is the duty of all of us to remove the barriers in hearts and minds together,' by our President. It was removed in recent days. They cannot erase our President's name from the hearts of the disabled and our nation by removing the quote from there. You, too, can build concrete structures like the barrier-free life center, not with empty sentences like 'We will make it easier for the disabled to access life' or 'We will hold workshops.'"

"THERE IS CURRENTLY A TRUSTEE IN ÜSKÜDAR MUNICIPALITY"

Gültekin said the following:

"Look, I told you before, I said before that I do not believe in your sincerity regarding the trustee issue. Why did I say this? Because there is currently a trustee in Üsküdar Municipality. You do not raise any voice against this trustee in Üsküdar Municipality, but you mention Van's Bahçesaray or the Tunceli Municipality."

Upon reactions from the CHP benches to Gültekin's words, Aral, who was chairing the session, intervened and calmed the council members.

Continuing his speech, Gültekin stated, "The keys to all of Üsküdar have been handed over to a person who is not a council member, not a civil servant, and who is being paraded from neighborhood to neighborhood as a coordinator deputy mayor. You are also aware and conscious of this. That is why do not react to me."

"WE ONLY PUT THE SIGNATURE OF GAZI MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK"

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Güneş Gülaydın took the floor to respond to Gültekin's words.

Gülaydın said the following regarding the removal of President Erdoğan's quote located at the Üsküdar Barrier-Free Life Center:

"I thank all the past administrators who have driven even a single nail into Üsküdar, including the Üsküdar Barrier-Free Life Center, in the presence of the Üsküdar public. In all the works we have done and opened, we only put the signature of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk—just as we did in this council hall. Apart from this, we as the CHP do not find it appropriate for any politician's quote or signature to be present in any public facility. For this purpose, we are removing such situations in our facilities one by one."

Speaking about the "allegations of a trustee in Üsküdar Municipality," Gülaydın stated, "We do not accept this allegation. Sinem Dedetaş and her team, who won Üsküdar after 30 years, are managing it."

At the meeting, following the speeches, the agenda proposals discussed were referred to the relevant commissions.