Turkey’s ruling alliance welcomes Islamist parties with misogynist agendas
The New Welfare Party and Huda-Par back the People’s Alliance led by Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party.
ISTANBUL — Two Islamist parties have signed up to support Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s electoral alliance, putting a law on violence against women under threat and challenging the wider rights of women and the LGBTQ community.
In a U-turn over the weekend, the New Welfare Party (YRP) was officially admitted into the People’s Alliance led by Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP). The alliance also includes two far-right parties.
The Free Cause Party, known as Huda-Par, announced on Friday that it would field candidates under the AKP’s list in the parliamentary election being held alongside a presidential vote on May 14.
Prior to throwing their support behind the People’s Alliance, both the YRP and Huda-Par had insisted their backing was conditional on amending Law 6284 on the prevention of violence against women and children. In a list of 30 demands, the YRP also called for the closure of LGBTQ associations.
