Erdoğan’s son criticizes opposition-run municipality over mixed-gender public swimming pool

Duvar English

Bilal Erdoğan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son, has criticized Üsküdar Municipality over mixed-gender usage of a public swimming pool. 

Speaking during a 24 TV broadcast, Bilal Erdoğan said, “Just today I was in Üsküdar with my friends. Üsküdar Municipality has changed a swimming pool where men and women used to be able to swim at separate times to 'only one day can be entered separately, otherwise, it is mixed'.” 

“The pool is even named after the late theology professor Raşit Küçük. Why are you doing this? So many people benefit from this place,” Erdoğan said, criticizing the municipality for providing the swimming pool to mixed-gender usage. 

Once regarded as the stronghold of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Istanbul’s Üsküdar district municipality was won by Sinem Dedetaş, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), in the March 2024 local elections. 

She won by garnering 49.9% percent of the votes, beating incumbent mayor Hilmi Türkmen who remained at 42.37%.

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