Edirne achieves a first: 7 out of 28 neighborhoods entrusted to female mukhtars

In the local elections held on March 31, 2019, a first in the history of Edirne occurred when a female mukhtar was elected for the Medrese Alibey Neighborhood. In the elections held on March 31, 2024, the mukhtar candidates engaged in a fierce competition rarely seen in previous years.

FEMALE MUKHTARS RECEIVED THEIR CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION
In Edirne, where the mukhtar races were scenes of great excitement, the number of female mukhtars rose from 1 to 7. While the incumbent female mukhtar was re-elected and retained her position, women were elected in 6 neighborhoods to replace the incumbent male mukhtars.

Edirne's 7 female mukhtars have received their certificates of election and begun their duties.

Stating that she feels the justified pride of being elected mukhtar of Şükrüpaşa Neighborhood, the largest neighborhood in Edirne, Şükrüpaşa Neighborhood Mukhtar Esra Akgün Yılmaz said, "As a woman, I feel the justified pride of being elected mukhtar of Şükrüpaşa Neighborhood, the largest neighborhood in Edirne, as proof that women are elected with their free will through their right to vote and be elected."

Edirne's youngest mukhtar, 33-year-old Gülden Akman Yılmaz, who was elected mukhtar of Atatürk Neighborhood, said she would do great things for her neighborhood. Yeniimaret Mukhtar Neslihan Dönmez Dürüktaş also expressed her gratitude to Atatürk for the right to vote and be elected.

Kurtuluş Neighborhood Mukhtar Nurcan Uzel, who was elected mukhtar by defeating 11 candidates in her neighborhood by a large margin, stated, "There were 11 candidates in my neighborhood, and we achieved victory by surpassing them all on our own." Kocasinan Neighborhood Mukhtar Canan Koca Nuray also explained that she worked with dedication during the election process and reached out to the voters.

The names of Edirne's female mukhtars: Şükrüpaşa Neighborhood Mukhtar Esra Akgün Yılmaz, Kurtuluş Neighborhood Mukhtar Nurcan Uzel, Medresealibey Neighborhood Mukhtar Nesrin Günay, Kocasinan Neighborhood Mukhtar Canan Koca Nuray, Cumhuriyet Neighborhood Mukhtar Selma Er Oluçay, Atatürk Neighborhood Mukhtar Gülden Akman Yılmaz, and Yeni İmaret Neighborhood Mukhtar Neslihan Dönmez Dürüktaş