AKP Council Member Özgün's striking 'hunger' calculation draws backlash: 'If there were hunger in the country, there wouldn't be excess weight'

Taking the floor during the discussions on economic conditions and the hunger threshold on the council agenda, AKP Council Member Yusuf Özgün targeted Maltepe Deputy Mayor Şükrü Akçadağ while responding to the criticisms.

AKP Council Member Yusuf Özgün said, "Let's say based on a height of 1.60, there is a 10-kilogram excessweight. If there were hunger in this country, there would not beexcess weight relative toheight."he stated.

In his speech from the council podium, Özgün said,“You talk about hunger,where is Mr. Şükrü?I believe he is 1.60 meters tall.Let's say he has 10 kilogramsof excess weightfor his 1.60 height.This if there were hunger in the country, there wouldn't beexcess weightfor one's height,” he stated. Theseremarks drew vocal reactions in the council chamber.

Özgün's explanations were met by council memberswhile being evaluated as a "personal attack," theaforementioned remarkswere stated to have reduced the debate on hunger and poverty to a demeaning level based on personalcharacteristics. Tensions rose in the hall during the discussions.

CHAIRPERSON KRESPONSE FROM KÖYMEN

Chair Köymen: Because you cannot find anything else, you are attacking our colleagues

Following the reactions, Maltepe MayorEsin Köymen intervened in the session and respondedsharply to Yusuf Özgün's remarks.

Köymen, from the council podium, made the followingmade the statement:“Mr. Yusuf, I think your speech is over. Since you cannot find anything else to talk about,

you are attacking our colleagues one by one.Please,if you have finished your speech,return to your seat.Colleagues,please.we saw his personality. Mr. Yusuf, we do not even want your apology."The AKP council member's

statements regarding the hungerthresholddidnot remain limited to the council hall and were met with public backlash. Socialissuessuch as hunger and poverty are often linked to the physical It was emphasized that debatingbased on these characteristics is unacceptable.

AKP Council Member Özgün's striking 'hunger' calculation draws backlash:
If there were hunger in the country, there wouldn't be excess weighthttps://t.co/PCKvcSzRGE pic.twitter.com/oKl4asI9Nq

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) January 5, 2026

News Source: 12punto