Homophobic remarks were made during a tv show by Ankara Metropolitan mayor Melih Gökçek.

The mayor was attending a program run by TV celebrity Okan Bayülgen on Habertürk TV and they were discussing on social media.

Noting that Paris and London resolved their biggest problems such as traffic and city planning with gay mayors in charge, Bayülgen asked Gökçek "When will we have a gay mayor in Turkey?"

"Each society has its own set of moral values" responded Gökçek. "We have our own way of life and traditions. We can't approve and live together with the gay culture in Europe. Our morals are different. Inshallah [hopefully] there won't be any gays in our Turkey and there shouldn't be."

Further in the program, reported Bianet, Gökçek - who is very active in social media - shared his observations. He said social media is "a blessing".