'Gezi' debate in Maltepe Municipal Council: 'We will continue to commemorate it'

The Maltepe Municipality council meeting was held at the municipal building under the chairmanship of Mayor Esin Köymen.

'GEZI IS NOT AN UPRISING'

In her speech at the meeting, Köymen stated regarding the Gezi Park Resistance, which began on May 27, 2013, "We will continue to commemorate the Gezi resistance. Gezi is not an uprising. It is a resistance against all anti-democratic practices in Turkey."

AKP Maltepe Group Deputy Chairman Kamil Karabak reacted to Köymen's remarks, accusing her of "challenging the state."

AKP'S KARABAK: 'GEZI IS AN UPRISING'

Karabak said, "For two months, you have been making little jabs like this here. I want to underline this: This is not a place to challenge the state. This is a place to serve the nation; what does it say there? 'Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation.' Let us look at our agenda, let us look at our work." 

AKP MEMBERS WALKED OUT OF THE MEETING

Karabak continued his remarks as follows:

"Then what explanation will you give for when the former chairman of the Republican People's Party walked past the tanks on July 15, or when the Mayor of Bakırköy watched the coup from his home? We, as a nation, stood united during the Gezi events, on December 17-25, and on July 15. We stood by our country with CHP members, AK Party members, and MHP members. Gezi is an uprising."

Karabak continued: "The Mayor is the mayor of Maltepe Municipality. She is the mayor of Maltepe, she is the chair of the council, right? Groups engage in politics here. That is what I am saying. As the AK Party, we are leaving the hall," he said.

Following the debate, members of the AKP Group walked out of the meeting.