Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek met with the delegation led by Slovenian National Assembly Speaker Klakocar Zupancic at the Ministry. Speaking here, Gürlek stated that they are in constructive cooperation with Slovenia in political, economic and cultural fields, and said that the friendly ties between Türkiye and Slovenia are increasing day by day.

“IMPORTANT AND COMPLEMENTARY DIMENSION”

Stating that cooperation in the field of justice constitutes an important and complementary dimension in the relations between the two countries, Gürlek emphasized that they attach great importance to the development of cooperation within the framework of the rule of law, mutual experience sharing in the field of judiciary, judicial assistance and international agreements.

Describing some reforms made in the legal system recently, Gürlek said, “Under the leadership of our President, we made very important reforms in the field of judiciary by announcing the 4th Judicial Reform Strategy Document between 2025 and 2029. In this context, we presented the 11th Judicial Package to the Parliament in December 2025, and our work on the 12th Judicial Package continues. At the same time, in order to strengthen criminal justice and make the execution and trial processes more effective, the Turkish Penal Code and “We are also considering making some changes in the execution system.” he said.

“WE STAND BY THE JUSTIFIED STRUGGLE”

Gürlek continued as follows: “In this context, we find it very valuable that our country recognized the State of Palestine as a result of the vote held in the General Assembly of the Slovenian National Assembly. In particular, our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed his satisfaction with Slovenia’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine in every environment. As Turkey, we continue to defend human dignity, peace and justice under all circumstances. We always continue the rightful struggle of the Palestinian people and stand by the Palestinians. The friendship and justice between the two countries “I reiterate that we desire to improve cooperation in the field of justice every day. We consent to all kinds of agreements and development of our relations regarding cooperation in the judicial field.” Gürlek expressed his gratitude to Klakocar Zupancic for his visit.

The ‘Ottoman Turkish Competition Final in Pursuit of Cultural Heritage’ program, which brought together Science and Anatolian High Schools across Turkey, organized by Genç Hayrat in cooperation with the Hayrat Foundation and the Ministry of National Education, at the Presidential Ottoman Archives Complex in Kağıthane, was held with the participation of Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Science Dissemination Society.

15 THOUSAND STUDENTS FROM 505 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED

Governor of Istanbul Davut Gül, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Knowledge Dissemination Foundation Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Deputy Minister of National Education Ömer Faruk Yelkenci, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Enes Eminoğlu, Kağıthane District Governor Yüksel Kara, Kağıthane Mayor Mevlüt Öztekin and Young Hayrat President Kürşat Karaca, students and instructors attended the program. 505 schools determined by the organizing committee among Science and Anatolian high schools in all provinces and districts of Türkiye participated in the competition. 15 thousand students attended the seminars titled ‘Why Should I Learn Ottoman Turkish?’ seminars were given. 7 thousand of these students were given Ottoman language education for 7 weeks. Türkiye and provincial rankings were announced in the exam held online across Türkiye on January 31. The winners were entitled to compete at the Presidential State Archives Ottoman Archive Complex on February 12. Awards were presented to the 10 students who ranked highest in the provinces. After the protocol speeches, Bilal Erdoğan presented a gift and a plaque to Yusuf Kağan Kaymaz, who came third in the Türkiye-wide exam, Ammar Alkurdu, who came second, and Yusuf Aydın, who came first. In commemoration of the day, Young Hayrat President Kürşat Karaca sent a message written in Celi Thuluth to Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Knowledge Dissemination Foundation, ‘Don’t worry, surely Allah is with us!’ He gave as a gift the work written on Surah At-Tawbah 40. The other protocol delegation participating in the program also presented gifts to the students.

‘IT FEEL NATURAL TO US THAT OUR YOUTH LEARN TO READ OTTOMAN LANGUAGE’

Speaking at the program, Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Science Dissemination Society, said, “It really seems natural to our young people to learn how to read Ottoman Turkish or Ottoman Turkish. But more recently, 10, 15 years ago, these were great taboos in Türkiye. If someone said, ‘I cannot read texts written in old letters, I want to read them, let me get an education on this,’ this would pose a problem. Some people immediately objected to this.” They were voicing it, but now it’s normalized. This is our own language, our own texts, our own history. In our country, let alone Arabic, when you learn Arabic and Persian, your vocabulary also becomes stronger. But when you learn Ottoman Turkish, when you develop a little knowledge of the old texts, what happens to the vocabulary? “When a student with a rich vocabulary then tries to learn foreign languages, he learns those languages with a higher vocabulary. Therefore, I think that this study plays a very important role in strengthening the vocabulary and vocabulary of our young people and strengthening their ties with their past.”

Yılmaz met with the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ünal Üstel and his accompanying delegation at the Vice President’s Residence.

Making a statement after the one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings, Yılmaz stated that it was an extremely useful meeting.

Reminding that when he last visited TRNC on January 16, they held the launch ceremony of the “Smart Transportation System Electronic Control and Smart Intersection Project”, Yılmaz said that they held very useful consultations with economic non-governmental organizations, professional organizations and the business world.

Emphasizing that the relations between Turkey and the TRNC are not ordinary relations between two countries, but extremely special relations, Yılmaz said, “The Republic of Turkey, as the motherland and guarantor country, has always stood by the TRNC and will continue to do so.” he said.

Noting that they work on economic and financial cooperation protocols with TRNC Prime Minister Üstel every year, Yılmaz underlined that they attach great importance to acting with common sense while carrying out these studies.

Stating that they shaped these programs in consultation with the institutions of the Republic of Turkey and the TRNC, on the one hand, and with the economic and social stakeholders, on the other hand, Yılmaz said that they continued their work with the same understanding this year.

“WE WANT TO CARRY TRNC TO A STRONG FUTURE”

Stating that they made important evaluations within the scope of the Economic Financial Cooperation Protocol, Yılmaz said:

“Our aim is clear. We want to carry the TRNC to a much more prosperous and stronger future. We will continue to work intensively on this issue as we have done so far. Our biggest goal is to carry the TRNC to the future as an economically and socially shining star of the Eastern Mediterranean, from education to health, from physical and technological infrastructure to universities, from R&D to IT valley visions. Our aim is to make the TRNC self-sufficient, compatible with global conditions, competitive “And to continue on its way with a sustainable economic structure. In this context, we are consulting together about what we can do for entrepreneurs, women, youth, producers and farmers in the coming period. Our main approach in all these studies is people-oriented, inclusive and sustainable development.”

Stating that he plans to visit TRNC during Ramadan, Yılmaz said, “We discuss these issues in every meeting. We can state that we will finalize these studies at the end of March at the latest and create a new economic, economic and financial cooperation framework. We act with such a calendar. There are no problems or problems in our cooperation at the moment. Therefore, when we mutually shape a framework by the end of March, we will easily continue our way without interruption.” he said.

Yılmaz stated that they implemented the current cooperation protocol very effectively and that they implemented the largest financial program to date with a high degree of realization.

“EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THE TRUTH OF THE ISLAND”

Underlining that, as the motherland and guarantor country, they will continue to defend the rights and law of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriots in the strongest and most effective way on every ground and platform, Yılmaz said:

“Of course, together with the authorities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus… Everyone should see the realities of the island. Everyone should know well that there are two states and two separate peoples on the island. The issue should be approached on the basis of sovereign equality. If a solution is to be sought, this solution must be a solution built on the realities on the island. At this point, we all know the approach of the Greek Cypriot side, which is not in favor of a solution and has never been a party to the solution, and this has been tested and seen many times. We have experienced this many times in history. Let alone Everyone knows and sees that they do not approach a solution, that they do not take any steps within the scope of the United Nations, even on issues where ‘cooperation should be done’, and that they do not take some positive actions.

Therefore, in the coming periods, we will continue to defend the rights and sovereignty of the TRNC on every platform with an approach based on these facts. Of course, there can always be cooperation between two societies, between two states, and we are always ready for all of this. To give an example, supplying electricity to the island via Turkey and integrating the entire island into the European system through this channel is the most rational, most cost-effective, and technically feasible project. Why shouldn’t the whole island benefit from this? “We are always open to such joint projects.”

Expressing that they are always open to cooperation that is beneficial to both parties, Yılmaz said that they hope that steps will be taken at these points.

“INHUMANE UNFAIR ISOLATIONS AGAINST TRNC MUST BE REMOVED”

“Inhumane and unfair isolations against the TRNC must be removed.” Yılmaz emphasized that they will continue their efforts on these issues.

Underlining that they are and will continue to be on the side of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people, no matter what anyone says or does, Yılmaz said, “As the Republic of Turkey, we will continue to make every effort to further our cooperation with the TRNC in every field, both in political and development issues.” he said.

Yilmaz stated that they had very useful talks today and that they will continue these talks and complete the work by the end of March and said, “TRNC and the Republic of Turkey will continue on their way in this spirit of cooperation forever. No matter who is trying to set a trap, no matter what games they are trying to play in our region, the realities in the region will foil their traps.” he said.

“OUR SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE WITH DETERMINATION”

In his post about the meeting on his NSosyal account, Vice President Yılmaz stated that they had a comprehensive meeting with TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and government partners in Ankara.

Yılmaz included the following statements in his post:

“In our meeting, which took place on the basis of unshakable bonds of brotherhood and solidarity between Turkey and TRNC, we discussed projects ranging from infrastructure to digitalization, education to production, and our common development goals. We aim to ensure that the 2026 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement, which we plan to sign in the coming days, will be inclusive of all segments and will make the TRNC economy a more competitive and sustainable structure. As the motherland and guarantor country, we will stand by the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC under all conditions and platforms. “We will continue our support for the strengthening of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people with determination, and will continue to support the prosperity of the TRNC and its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

Breaking news: Meral Gökkaya, Head of the Legal Support and Victim Services Department of the Ministry of Justice, who made a presentation to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Investigation Commission on Children Driven to Crime, explained the “diversion model” that was under investigation. Defining diversion, Gökkaya said, “Children in conflict with the law are kept out of the official justice system and subjected to unofficial alternative procedures.” Gökkaya continued as follows:

“If there is a trial, that diversion system does not exist. Many methods are used in diversion, such as monitoring the child with alternative methods, subjecting him to certain educational programs, or giving written or verbal warnings. Our aim here is to remove the child from behavior that causes crime before a criminal record is formed, and this is determined according to the child’s needs.

Some countries limit this to simple crimes, while others include more serious crimes. But the general trend is that it is applied to simple crimes, children who commit crimes for the first time, and when a certain number of crimes are committed. If the child complies with the rules, the criminal investigation or trial against him is closed, in a sense, he is acquitted. If he does not comply, a criminal file is opened again. “The trial has started again, subject to the same procedures as the trial in the juvenile court.”

IT WILL NOT BE A CRIME MACHINE

Gökkaya noted that the aim of the diversion model is not “forgiveness, ignoring the child’s crime, or reducing the punishment, or not giving punishment”, but “preventing the child from committing a crime again, ensuring social reconciliation, and eliminating the crime-related damages of both the society and the victim and their relatives.” Gökkaya said, “The aim is to increase social reconciliation, to reintegrate the child into society, to find measures specific to the child, to follow this strictly, and to prevent children from continuing their lives as crime machines when they become adults.”

PRISON IS NOT A DETERRENT

Gökkaya emphasized that when children who are dragged into crime are involved in the trial process, they emulate the models they see in television programs and series, and said:

“When they are tried, they overcome the fear of not being tried at all; being judged becomes a normal thing for them. After being in and out of prison, their fear of ‘I am now involved in a judicial process, I will be tried, I will be punished, I will go to prison’ decreases. ‘I am now a criminal personality’; he feels himself in such a role and fulfills the requirements of that role. In other words, contrary to what is claimed, taking the child to court and putting him in a penal institution is not a deterrent.”

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FAMILY

Emphasizing that the diversion method to be used requires the acceptance of the perpetrator, Gökkaya stated that the system imposes responsibility on the family and said, “In other words, the child and the families must also say ‘I agree to enter the diversion system, I agree to comply with the programs that will be applied to me’.”

WESTERN COUNTRIES WERE EXAMINED

Regarding the diversion model, the Ministry of Justice examined the practices in 16 countries, especially in the UK, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Accordingly, the Netherlands implements a “stopping system” called “HALT”. This system can be implemented by both the prosecutor’s office and the police. The police can impose a fine in cases where the action must be a misdemeanor, or they can include the criminal up to the age of 18 in the stopping program for smaller actions that do not require the intervention of the prosecutor, such as violence or theft.

Germany is also among the countries that implement diversion. In Germany, which sets the age of criminal liability as 14, children under the age of 14 are not subject to diversion. For diversion, 14-21 years of age are taken as basis. The prosecutor or the judge may decide to implement an educational measure. In Germany, the diversion model is applied when there is a misdemeanor that requires a prison sentence of at least one year in terms of the type of crime.

Italy is also among the countries that apply diversion. Italy, which accepts the age of 14 as the age of criminal liability, applies the diversion to the age group 14-21. Studies are carried out such as including the child in programs such as sports, social activities, volunteer work, or in an educational project.

In England, the age of criminal liability is 10, but there is a gradual implementation. Families are given responsibility and are included in the process together with the child. In families that do not fulfill their responsibilities, the crime committed is recorded in the child’s record, and the family is fined 1000 pounds.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received the DEM Party delegation at the Presidential Complex yesterday. The agenda of the meeting, which lasted about an hour, was the Terror-Free Türkiye process. After the meeting, the first statement came from the DEM Party delegation. The statement included the following statements:

As DEM Party İmralı Delegation, we had an important meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We consulted with Mr. President Erdoğan on the developments in our region and the effects of these developments on Türkiye and the Peace and Democratic Society Process.

During the meeting, the common will to continue the process with determination was once again confirmed. It was stated that the Turkish Grand National Assembly, relevant ministries and public institutions need to intensify their efforts in order to take concrete and reassuring steps regarding the ongoing process. In this context, it was emphasized that the report of the National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission should be prepared with a comprehensive approach and provide a solid basis for democratization and freedoms. It was stated that it is important for the legal framework to be adopted without delay and with the broadest consensus, which will cover all segments of society and provide the basis for Türkiye’s democratic future.

We reiterate our belief that this meeting, held at a time when important developments are taking place in global and regional politics, will contribute to the peaceful coexistence of the people of Türkiye and the region, and we thank Mr. President for his acceptance.

In Giresun, CHP’s Görele Mayor Hasbi Dede was arrested on charges of “sexual harassment” within the scope of the investigation carried out against him. Following the arrest decision, Görele District Governorate appointed Municipal Council Member Hüseyin Çakıcı from CHP as the temporary chairman until the municipal council elections are held. It was learned that the request for Hasbi Dede to be referred to the High Disciplinary Board will also be on the agenda at the next meeting of the CHP Central Executive Board (MYK).

Dede, who was summoned to the courthouse within the scope of the investigation initiated upon the complaint of the victim family regarding the harassment messages allegedly shared by the CHP’s Görele Mayor Hasbi Dede with a 16-year-old girl named TT on social media in Giresun’s Görele district, was released on the condition of judicial control and with a travel ban. Upon the prosecution’s objection to this decision, Dede was summoned to the courthouse with an arrest warrant. The grandfather was arrested by the court. Following the process, a change of duties was made in the municipal administration. In the appointment made by the District Governorate, CHP Council Member and retired history teacher Hüseyin Çakıcı, the oldest member of the Municipal Council, was appointed as the interim mayor until the election is held in the council. While there are 7 CHP and 4 AK Party members in the Görele Municipal Council, the deputy mayor is expected to be determined by the election to be held by the Assembly in the coming days.