Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek made the following statements in his statement to A Haber Special News Chief Mehmet Karataş:

“THE PENALTIES OF CHILDREN WHO ARE DRIVEN INTO CRIME WILL BE INCREASED”

“As a state, we first stood together with the families of our deceased brothers and sisters, and just as we made them feel that we are with them, we will take concrete steps from now on, and we will take measures, especially regarding increasing the penalties of children dragged into crime, the social media law, encouraging programs on social and visual media, or social media broadcasts.

If necessary, we will also bring to the agenda the responsibility of some crimes committed by children, especially violent crimes and crimes such as murder, in the sense of neglecting our families as responsibilities of supervision and care in this regard.

“WE ARE CONSIDERING TO MAKE REGULATIONS IN LAW NUMBER 6136”

Likewise, we are considering making regulations in Law No. 6136 in terms of criminal liability for the licensed person in case the guns are kept at home, out of reach of children, even if they are licensed, and if a crime is committed due to illegal storage, we will take steps regarding this.

We are considering regulating acts of murder committed in schools and similar places as qualified manslaughter.

In cases where there are visuals on television that encourage violence, such as encouraging the use of weapons, we should take the necessary steps and especially
“We are considering making regulations that include criminal liability, and our work on this continues rapidly.”

The school attacks in Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa had a great impact in the country. Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi made statements on the issue.

Minister Çiftçi included the following statements in his statement:

“The weakening of neighborhood culture, unhealthy peer relationships and social isolation make young people more vulnerable. While in the past, a child’s behavior was the responsibility of not only the family but also the environment, today this sense of common ownership is gradually weakening.

“IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS TAKE A GUIDING ROLE”

This may cause risks that should be detected early to be overlooked. Schools are not only places of academic knowledge, but also centers of character building. It is critical to strengthen guidance services and for teachers to take on a role of not only teaching but also guiding. Effective operation of early warning mechanisms will ensure that risky behaviors are detected in a timely manner. Increasing loneliness, anger management problems and emotional detachment among young people have an important place in the background of such events. Individuals who cannot express themselves and feel that they are not understood become introverted over time and become more open to sudden, destructive reactions. For this reason, expanding psychosocial support systems is not a choice but a necessity.

In the statement made by the Governorship, it was stated that allegations of attacks targeting some schools across the province were detected on various social media accounts on Thursday, April 16, 2026. It was stated in the statement that following the sad events in Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş, the posts in question were evaluated meticulously, and it was emphasized that an investigation was immediately initiated by the police units. As a result of the studies carried out, it was reported that the person who shared the posts was identified and detained in a short time.

The statement also said, “Necessary judicial and technical procedures are being carried out meticulously against individuals and accounts that aim to disrupt social peace, exploit public sensitivities and produce provocative content.” Calling on citizens, the Governorship stated that false posts circulating on social media that may cause fear and panic should not be relied upon, and pointed out the importance of only considering statements made from official sources. It was stated that security forces are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to maintain peace and security in the province.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the following in his speech here:

It is my great pleasure to host you in Türkiye on the occasion of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. You are all welcome and honored to our beautiful Istanbul, which connects continents and cultures and brings colors and motifs together in the same pattern. I would like to express my gratitude to all our guests from approximately 155 countries from Asia to Africa, from Latin America to Europe, who attended the General Assembly and honored our program. On behalf of my 86 million citizens, I send my greetings and love to all of our friendly and brotherly people whose will you represent. I would like to express at the beginning of my remarks how pleased we are, as Türkiye and Istanbul, to host the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union once again.

I hope that the 152nd General Assembly, convened with the theme of “Growing hope for future generations, ensuring peace and ensuring justice”, will be beneficial for all humanity. Decisions to be taken and discussions to be held within the scope of the General Assembly; The findings, criticisms and proposals herein; Likewise, I hope that the committee meetings, forum sessions and side events to be held will further strengthen the friendship and solidarity between us and contribute to the solution of the current crises, especially the atrocities in Gaza. I also congratulate our Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, our esteemed Speaker and our members of parliament for successfully hosting the first General Assembly of 2026. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Martin Chungong, who has successfully served as Secretary General for 12 years, for his contributions to the union, and I wish success to our friend who will take over this important duty.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has been performing a very important function for 137 years. This evening, I would like to thank you once again, the valuable members of this union that has opened up to parliamentary democracy with the understanding of “democracy for everyone”. I find the mission undertaken by the union very valuable, based on increasing the opportunities for dialogue and cooperation and intensifying initiatives focused on peace and justice. I wholeheartedly believe that the 152nd General Assembly will make significant contributions to the construction of a more just and secure world, and a future full of peace and tranquility that flourishes with new hopes, on the basis of parliamentary diplomacy.

“Humanitarian aid to Gaza is being blocked”

As esteemed guests, people of wisdom and conscience, we all know this fact very well: The international system established by the victors 80 years ago is today facing a major crisis of legitimacy. The values, principles, rules and practices that form the basis of the system are on the verge of losing their meaning and reputation on a global scale. Unfortunately, the binding provisions of international law have lost their effect on actors who add new wars and crimes against humanity every day. Common sense is suspended, dialogue is disabled; In such an environment where diplomacy and negotiation are replaced by weapons, missiles and bombs, no one is safe.

Look, I would like to express this very clearly here: As Türkiye, the priority of our foreign policy, which we build on human values, is to resolve conflicts by peaceful means, regardless of geography. It is clear that no equation in which the regional countries are not the main actors can respond to the search for peace and security. The essence of the peace initiatives we have undertaken in Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, Africa and many other regions; It is a principled and realistic approach. Of course, parliaments, which are the institutions where the will of the nations are manifested, also have extremely critical responsibilities in this sense. Although the international public opinion shows the will to stop the tragedies in the Middle East, we witness that governments are far behind at this point. Here we followed the events of the last two months together. While the world’s focus shifted to the war in Iran, thousands of people lost their lives in the attacks of the Israeli government in Palestine and Lebanon.

More than a million Lebanese were displaced in the same attacks. The number of those killed and forced to migrate is increasing day by day. The Israeli government, which is the biggest obstacle to peace and tranquility for its own people, Palestine and our region, does not stop and cannot be stopped despite all the efforts of the international community. I think we need to think long and hard about this. The same violation of law and rule continues in Palestine. Israeli forces have martyred 755 Palestinians and injured 2,100 people since the ceasefire was signed on October 10, 2025. While 73 thousand Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, the number of injured in Gaza has exceeded 172 thousand. The Israeli administration, which does not comply with its commitments within the framework of the ceasefire, also prevents humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. The aggressive policies against Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the West Bank, as well as the illegal settler terrorism, continue with all their violence.

Israel, which has openly voiced its plan to turn the West Bank into the new Gaza, is seeking to revive the shame of apartheid in South Africa, 32 years after its collapse, by imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners. We think that it is necessary for the world’s parliaments to react in the harshest way against this decision, which was adopted by the Israeli Parliament and will apply only to Palestinians. I invite all parliamentarians to join forces and raise the voice of peace in order to implement the two-state solution, which is the only formula for a just and lasting peace in Palestine, as soon as possible.

SUPPORT FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SYRIA

Dear guests, the conflict environment in our region; It is the biggest obstacle to the peace and stability that the Syrian people, who have gained freedom after 13.5 years of oppression, deserve. Constructive and continuous support from international actors is needed in the recovery of Syria. We have, and will continue to provide, all the support we can to our Syrian brothers on the basis of national unity and territorial integrity. Likewise, we continue active efforts to ensure tranquility and security in another sister geography, Libya. In this critical period we are going through, it is of great importance that diplomatic efforts to end the Ukrainian war are not interrupted. As the only country that both Russia and Ukraine trust, we continue our sincere efforts to end the war. On the other hand, we appreciate the steps taken towards the construction of a peaceful future where peace and prosperity prevail in the South Caucasus, and we hope that this will set an example for the whole world. It is high time to reach a fair, permanent and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue, which has been on our agenda since 1963. From here, I once again call for an end to the unlawful isolation to which the Turkish Cypriots are subjected, and I would like to express that we expect your support in this regard.

Dear guests, our Africa policy is shaped by the understanding of equal partnership; It is getting stronger day by day with the support of friendly and brotherly African countries. However, the conflicts in Sudan deeply hurt us, just like our African brothers. We support all diplomatic efforts to end instability in Sudan. We are particularly pleased with the contribution of the steps taken to solve the problems with Ethiopia to reducing tensions in the Horn of Africa. Our support for the territorial integrity and development of Somalia, which has made significant progress towards stability and security in recent years, continues. Ensuring stability and security throughout Africa, including the Sahel region, is our common goal. In cooperation with our African friends, we will continue to provide all the support needed to help the continent achieve a brighter future. With these thoughts, I hope that the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will once again be beneficial. I would like to thank you, my dear friends, for honoring our program. We greet you all with love and respect; I hope to meet again. Stay healthy.

The lifeless body of Narin Güran, who disappeared on August 21, 2024 in the rural Tavşantepe District of Bağlar district, was found in a sack in the stream bed on September 8, on the 19th day of the search, covered with 3 stones weighing 30, 25 and 20 kilograms and hidden by bushes. During the investigation into Narin’s death, a lawsuit was filed at Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court against her uncle Salim Güran, her mother Yüksel Güran, her older brother Enes Güran and their neighbor Nevzat Bahtiyar, who was determined to have taken Narin’s lifeless body to the creek area in a red vehicle from the security camera footage.

Aggravated life imprisonment was requested for uncle Salim Güran, mother Yüksel Güran and elder brother Enes Güran, whose vehicle contained Narin’s DNA and hair sample, along with their neighbor Nevzat Bahtiyar, for the crime of ‘intentional murder of a child in participation’. In his statement after he was taken into custody, Nevzat Bahtiyar claimed that he did not kill Narin, but only carried her lifeless body to the stream and hid it. In the second hearing of the case held on December 28, 2024, the court sentenced Salim, Yüksel and Enes Güran to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of “intentional murder of a child in the event of participation”, and Nevzat Bahtiyar was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for the crime of “destroying, concealing or altering criminal evidence”.

APPEAL APPROVED THE PENALTIES BY MAJORITY VOTE

The lawyers of the detained defendants, the lawyers of the father Arif Güran, the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Diyarbakır Bar Association appealed after the decision. The decision was made on May 26, 2025 in the file sent to the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Diyarbakır Regional Court of Justice by the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court. In the decision, the chamber approved the prison sentences given to the 4 defendants by majority vote. The presiding judge made a dissenting opinion, stating that the camera records, base reports, DNA findings, PSA and hair samples were incompletely examined.

BREAKING NEWS: A decision was made in the murder of Narin Güran: Nevzat Bahtiyar was sentenced to 17 years in prison! | Video

The President emphasized that the acceptance that the mother, brother and uncle committed the murder together in a short time was contrary to the normal flow of life, that Nevzat Bahtiyar’s movements in particular should be clarified with detailed video analysis, and that the evidence was evaluated insufficiently scientifically. In the notification it prepared, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals stated that the aggravated life sentence given to the defendants Salim, Yüksel and Enes Güran and the prison sentence given to Nevzat Bahtiyar were in accordance with the law and requested the approval of the decision. After the opinion, the file was sent to the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals.