AKP and new Islamist coalition partner sign protocol discriminating against women and LGBTI+

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its latest alliance partner New Welfare Party (YRP) have signed a protocol including subtle clauses to usurp the rights of women and LGBTI+ community. The parties have agreed that they will put emphasis on regulations that aim to “prevent perversions against moral values,” according to a protocol revealed by journalist İsmail Saymaz.

Saturday March 25 2023 07:45 pm

YRP leader Fatih Erbakan is seen holding the protocol signed with the AKP.

Duvar English

Before the Islamist New Welfare Party (YRP) joined the ruling People’s Alliance on March 24, the party and Justice and Development Party (AKP) signed a protocol including subtle clauses that are discriminatory against the LGBTI+ community, revealed journalist İsmail Saymaz.

The journalist shared the protocol text signed between the two parties on his social media account.

AK Parti ile Yeniden Refah Partisi’nin imzaladığı ittifak deklerasyonu.
Metinde 6284 sayılı Ailenin Korunması ve Kadına Karşı Şiddetin Önlenmesi Kanunu’nda “ailenin bütünlüğünü bozucu maddelerin” ayaklanmasına ilişkin YRP’nin talebi AK Parti tarafından yumuşatılarak kabul edildi. pic.twitter.com/LDLk8uJIbs
— İsmail Saymaz (@ismailsaymaz) March 24, 2023

The protocol includes a special part about “social issues,” with one of the clauses stating that the parties will put emphasis on regulations that aim to “prevent perversions against moral values.” The protocol also read, “Existing laws will be re-evaluated in order to protect the integrity of the family.”

The ruling AKP has been attacking the LGBTI+ community in Turkey for a long time now, with high government officials spreading hate discourse. And the New Welfare Party has been demanding the closure of LGBTI+ associations and orchestrating anti-LGBTI+ demonstrations around the country.

Furthermore, the protocol between the two parties stated that laws regarding alimony will be changed to “suppress the grievances in society.” For a long time, alt-right men groups have been demanding the abolition of laws regarding the alimony rights of women.

After YRP joined the People’s Alliance, the main opposition’s presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu wrote the following on Twitter: "The alliance against us has chosen to expand through the usurpation of women's rights. The only thing I can say is that they don't know women, especially young women."

Resim her geçen gün netleşiyor. Biz barışmanın, açık yaraları kapatmanın, makulün, dünya ile rekabetin ittifakını kurduk. Karşımızdaki ittifak gasp edilecek kadın hakları üzerinden genişlemeyi seçti. Söyleyeceğim tek şey; kadınları, bilhassa genç kadınları hiç tanıyamadıklarıdır.
— Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (@kilicdarogluk) March 24, 2023

Previously, the New Welfare Party had demanded the abolition of Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and the Prevention of Violence against Women, sparking debates within the AKP. After Family Minister Derya Yanık and AKP’s Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin defended the law, they received numerous insults and threats.