Mosque loudspeakers used for broadcasting ruling AKP's election propaganda

An election meeting of Turkey’s ruling AKP mayoral candidates was announced on mosque loudspeakers in two neighborhoods of the Bozdoğan district of Aydın, the main opposition CHP lawmaker Süleyman Bülbül stated.

Sunday March 10 2024 07:28 pm

Duvar English

The election meeting to be attended by ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) metropolitan municipality and district mayor candidates was announced through the mosque loudspeakers in two neighborhoods of Bozdoğan district in western Aydın province, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Aydın Deputy Süleyman Bülbül revealed.

According to the statement made by Bülbül, mosques announced, "AKP Aydın metropolitan mayor candidate, AKP Bozdoğan district mayor candidate and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) provincial chair will attend the consultation meeting planned to be held in the neighborhood. For citizens who want to attend, shuttles will be available from Eymir."

MP Bülbül highlighted AKP's exploitation of religion for political purposes and noted, "The ruling party's desperation has become evident as it faces the prospect of losing the elections. It is unacceptable to attempt to convert places of worship into election offices by leveraging religion for political gain."

Before the local elections in 2019, an AKP flag was hung on the minaret of the a mosque in Bozdoğan district of Aydın.

Turkey will held local elections on March 31. According to the Article 50 and 51 of the Law On Basic Provisions of Elections and Voter Registers, verbal propaganda is not permitted in sanctuaries.

Nonetheless, AKP politicians including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has often used mosques to give political speeches, particularly ahead of elections.