Mahinur Ozdemir

Mahinur Ozdemir (born 7 November 1982 in Schaerbeek) is a Belgian politician, with dual nationality (Turkish – Belgian).[1] She is youngest and first female member of parliament with Hijab. She was expelled from Humanist Democratic Centre (cdH) for denying the Armenian Genocide.

Mahinur Ozdemir
Personal details
BornSchaerbeek, 1982

Biography

She can speak French, Flemish, English, Turkish and Spanish.[2] She holds a degree in political science, public administration guidance (Free University of Brussels). she is also an active member of many NGOs in Schaerbeek and the founder of a student organization. In 2006, she was elected as municipal councilor in the municipality of Schaerbeek. She joined the Christian Democratic Party in Brussels in 2009 and elected as member of the Brussels Regional Parliament on 7 June 2009.[3] She was the first woman to wear the headscarf in a Belgian parliamentary assembly. On 30 July 2010 she married Rahmi Goktas, a Turkish parliamentary attaché of the Justice and Development (AKP) Party.[4][5]

Political positions

Armenian Genocide denial

Ozdemir was expelled from her party, Humanist Democratic Centre on 29 May 2015 because she denied the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire was a genocide.[6] This is against the party’s deontological bylaws and CDH Chairman Benoit Lutgen had formerly stated that all genocide deniers within the party would be expelled.[7] Ozdemir claimed this to be freedom of speech.[8] Ozdemir immediately received support from the Justice and Development (AKP) Party office in Brussels.[9] There also was a demonstration in support of Ozdemir by the AKP-affiliated UETD, beginning at the headquarters of her former party and ending at the Turkish embassy.

References
  1. Quelques mots à mon sujet. mahinorozdemir. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18.
  2. pioneering-the-way-mahinur ozdemir belgian mp. nuravels.
  3. Belgian Muslims Seek Foothold in Local Politics. mahinorozdemir. Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  4. mahinur ozdemir a fete son mariage en turqui. unravels. Archived from the original on 2014-05-21.
  5. Belgian CDH Party Expels Deputy for Denying Armenian Genocide. armenianweekly.
  6. diplomacy belgian deputy of turkish origin expelled from party over genocide denia. todayszaman. Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  7. hurriyetdailynews.
  8. hurriyetdailynews.
  9. armenianweekly.
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