Mehmet Ali Aslan
Mehmet Ali Aslan (born 1975 in Silvan, Diyarbakır Province, Turkey) is a Turkish politician of Mhallami descent and the founding chairman of the ethnic group's first organization, the Mhallami Association.[1]
Mehmet Ali Aslan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| In office 7 June 2015 – 23 June 2018 | |
| Constituency | Mardin (June 2015 Batman (November 2015) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1975 Silvan, Diyarbakır Province, Turkey |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party (HDP) |
| Profession | Sports teacher |
Born in Silvan, Diyarbakır Province, Aslan grew up in Mercimekli, Mardin Province. Since 2002, he has been working as a sports teacher in Midyat.
Aslan contested the June 2015 general election as a list candidate for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).[2] Placed 4th representing Mardin, Aslan was elected to become the first Mhallami member of the Turkish Parliament.[3] As he committed his oath of office to the "peoples of Turkey" rather than "the Turkish people," he was called out for allegedly having Armenian roots. Aslan however denied "any connection with Armenians. If I had, I would be proud of it."[4]
In the November snap election, he was placed 2nd on the HDP's list in the neighboring Batman province and was subsequently reelected to parliament.[5]
References
- "HDP tops minority candidates list as ethnically diverse apply to be deputies". Today's Zaman. 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- "Mardin Seçim Sonuçları - 7 Haziran 2015 Genel Seçimleri | SABAH". www.sabah.com.tr. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- "A more colourful parliament". Agos. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- "Kurdish MP gives stunning response to 'accusations' over his Armenia roots". Armenia News. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- "1 Kasım 2015 Batman Genel Seçim Sonuçları". www.haberturk.com. Retrieved 12 January 2020.