Former AKP deputy claims she is not, never has been AKP member

A deputy of the ruling AKP between 2011 and 2015, Pelin Gündeş Bakır claimed on Aug. 19 that she is not, and never has been a member of the party. Responding to a social media user's comment that she should implement the rule of law in Turkey to make up for the AKP's damage, Bakır denied all association with the party.

Thursday August 19 2021 03:23 pm

Duvar English

Having served as the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) deputy for the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri between 2011 and 2015, Pelin Gündeş Bakır said on Aug. 18 that she is not a member of the party and that she never has been.

Bakır tweeted on Aug. 17 that she obtained her law degree from London School of Economic and University College London, and was met with criticism from a social media user who told her she should implement the rule of law in Turkey.

"At least reverse the damage you've done," the user said in reference to the ruling AKP's changes to the legal system in the country.

Ben akpli değilim. Hiç olmadım.
— Prof.Dr.Pelin Gündeş (@gundesbakir) August 18, 2021

"I'm not an AKP member. Never have been," the former deputy wrote in response, openly contradicting public information found on parliament's website.

Bakır's profile on the parliament website clearly states that she was a deputy for the AKP during the 24th legislative session.

Bakır had been discharged from the AKP after noting on social media the widespread cases of mass suicide in the country, and implying that the Turkish public's hardships were a result of the influx of Syrian migrants in Turkey.