Oxford city safety boss took trip paid by Turkey AKP

In December of 2025, Cllr Lubna Arshad for Blackbird Leys (Labour), a former lord mayor and the council’s cabinet member for a safer Oxford, accepted a visit to Istanbul paid for by President Erdoğan’s party, the AKP.

Cllr Arshad has now explained her reasons for taking the party-funded trip, describing it as “non-political” while acknowledging concerns about the party’s human rights record.

The travel for an “International Women in Local Governments Summit offered by Justice and Development Party (AK Party)” has been listed with an estimated value of £1066 in her registered interests as a gift or hospitality.

The Turkish president, who has been in power since 2014, attended the conference, and Cllr Arshad posed for group photos with him in images shared by the party’s official social media accounts.

President Erdoğan’s government has a recent record of restricting online platforms and free speech, and has been described by Amnesty International as having a “massive crackdown on human rights”.

Clllr Arshad described her experience on the summit, saying it “brought together women leaders from different countries to share experiences, challenges, and best practice in local governance”.

She said: “I attended in my capacity as a councillor and cabinet member for safer Oxford.

“It was an opportunity to engage with other women in leadership roles, exchange ideas, and learn from different approaches to community safety and local government areas directly relevant to my work in Oxford.

“Throughout my time in public office, I have consistently focused on community safety, safeguarding, and tackling issues such as violence against women and girls, exploitation, and inequality.

“Engaging in international forums can provide valuable insight to strengthen this work locally.

“I am aware of wider discussions and concerns around human rights, and I take these seriously.

“My decision to attend was based on the specific focus of the summit and my responsibility to deliver the best possible outcomes for residents.”

The council cabinet member added that she saw the engagement as a “non-political engagement in terms of international matters”, saying that it “should not be seen as an endorsement of any political party or government”.

She stated: “As part of my role, I regularly engage with a wide range of organisations and communities to ensure balanced perspectives and inclusive decision-making.”