Several Turkish newspapers reported a “first” for official state functions this year. Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek celebrated the 92nd anniversary of the foundation of Turkish Parliament and, for the first time, invited officials' wives who wear the headscarf. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the reception with his wife, Emine Erdoğan. And in a break with their usual practice in the past seven years, all military commanders attended the reception. Erdoğan told reporters, “In the past, conditions were different, but now conditions have changed and I can attend the reception with my wife.” Regarding the attendance of force commanders, Erdoğan said: “They are here, aren't they? That's good.” President Abdullah Gül said, “Invitations that didn't include spouses were not normal.” The only officials to not attend the reception were Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies.
Another widely covered story was a huge fire that broke out in a textile factory in İstanbul's Zeytinburnu district yesterday. People awoke to plume of black smoke that was visible from several parts of the city. The fire broke out in an old factory that belonged to the Akin Textile company, which covers an area of 36,000 square meters, and spread to nearly 70 nearby stores and workshops. It took 200 firefighters nearly five hours to put out the blaze. Some commentators speculated that it was intentionally started, as Bakırköy's mayor said a fire had broken out in the same spot 15 days ago.
Dailies also reported on preparations for former interior minister and police chief Ağar to fulfill his prison sentence after being convicted in the Susurluk case. Ağar will be sent to a type-K1 prison in the town of Yenipazar in the western province of Aydın. There are four wards and two discipline cells in the prison, which has a capacity of 42 people. The prison is close to the Ağar family home in in Bodrum, Muğla province, and is in a secure area.
