The opposition municipality of Turkey’s southern province of Mersin distributed free condoms as part of a health workshop, drawing the ire of the ruling party members of the municipal council.

The Mersin municipality distributed the condoms as part of a workshop it organised marking World AIDS Day, which featured talks by experts on methods of fighting AIDS and HIV at Mersin University, Sözcü newspaper reported on Saturday.

Ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) council member Mehmet Emin Kurt blasted the municipality over the move during a city council meeting, calling it violation of Turkish customs.

“Our Health Chamber Directorate, God bless them, went on distributed condoms on Mersin University [campus]. Is this acceptable for the social customs and traditions of our society?’’ Sözcü quoted Kurt as saying.

Chairwoman of the chamber Hülya Atila explained the project was a result of the cooperative effort of the Health Ministry and that all materials were donated for the project.

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) won Mersin by receiving over 45 percent of votes in the March local elections.