Ali Haydar Hakverdi


Ali Haydar Hakverdi is a Turkish politician from the Republican People's Party who currently serves as the Member of Parliament for Ankara's first electoral district since 7 June 2015. He was first elected in the June 2015 general election and was re-elected in the snap election of November 2015.

Early life and career

Ali Haydar Hakverdi was born in the district of Alaca, Çorum Province on 1 January 1979 and has lived in the capital city of Ankara since 1985. He graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Law and served as a freelance lawyer for fifteen years. Married with one child, he has since served as the General Secretary of Çorum-Der, as an executive of the Contemporary Life Support Association and as a headquarters executive of the Contemporary Jurists Association.

Political career

Hakverdi became a member of the Republican People's Party and served as the Vice President of the party's district branch in Mamak, Ankara Province. He has also participated in the training of party officials and helped on briefing volunteer observers during elections. He was elected during a nomination primary to the CHP's candidate lists for Ankara's first electoral district and secured sixth place on the preference list. He was elected to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in the June 2015 general election. He received nationwide news coverage for raising his fist while giving his oath of office during the parliamentary swearing in ceremony. He was re-elected as an MP in the snap election of November 2015.
In January 2016, Hakverdi criticised the Presidency of Religious Affairs and its President Mehmet Görmez for declaring that it was haram for Sunni Muslims to marry Alevis, since Alevis 'weren't Muslims'. Hakverdi claimed that the Presidency should 'know its place' and that it lacked respect from even Sunni citizens.