Duran, in his speech at the Women, Society and Future Panel held at the Directorate of Communications on the occasion of March 8, International Women’s Day, expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery to the citizens affected by the earthquake that occurred in Buldan district of Denizli.

Congratulating the International Women’s Day of all women who make life beautiful and direct society with their labor, determination and contributions to social life, Duran commemorated all the female heroes and martyrs who have a place in national and spiritual memories with mercy and gratitude.

Duran saluted all mothers and women who were tested with various pains from Gaza to Syria, from Arakan to Africa, and congratulated March 8 International Women’s Day and said, “I express my condolences to the grieving Iranian mothers whose schools have become graves for their children in the past few days, and I pray for God’s mercy and patience.” he said.

Underlining that when women’s rights are mentioned, I do not only mean the search for legal rights or the demand for equality, Duran said, “Women’s rights represent a comprehensive and vital issue that concerns all areas of life and the entire society. For this reason, we specifically selected the title of our panel as ‘Women, Society and Future’. Because we do not think of these three elements separately from each other.” made his assessment.

Duran emphasized that women have waged a very important struggle in the last two centuries to be visible in the economic order shaped by production relations, to take a more active part in social life, and to reach an equal position in the relationship between the state and the citizen, and said that this struggle is not only a struggle for individual rights, but also a strong will for the construction of a fair and inclusive social order.

Director of Communications Duran continued his words as follows:

“At the point we have reached today, I would particularly like to express the following. Making the issue of women’s rights a part of the advertising industry and consumer culture from time to time with sloganic expressions, and bringing the image of a strong woman to the agenda with empty discourses, distances us from real issues and produces a social illusion. The problems that women face are too deep and multi-dimensional to be explained with superficial slogans or popular discourses. Such an approach neither produces solutions to the real problems of women nor contributes to social justice. For this reason, we need to go deeper into the issue and understand our social reality.” “We have to approach it from a perspective that takes into consideration the situation.”

“A significant portion of the 92 thousand thank you applications sent to CİMER are for female public servants”

Duran stated that making women more visible and more active in public life, without any discrimination, is one of their basic responsibilities, and emphasized that they carefully listen to every voice coming from the society in areas that directly affect women’s lives, such as equal pay, maternity leave, nursery facilities, harassment and mobbing.

In this context, Duran stated that, as the Presidency, they are sensitive about carefully examining the applications from women to CIMER, one of the application mechanisms of citizens, and said, “A significant portion of the approximately 92 thousand applications of gratitude sent to CIMER throughout 2025 are for female public servants. I would like to express my gratitude to our women, who work in almost every field, from doctors to nurses, from teachers to social service workers and security personnel, who increase the quality of public services with their devoted work.” he said.

“We see violence against women as a crime with no mitigating circumstances.”

Stating that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s determined, uncompromising and principled stance on combating violence against women has opened the door to an important mentality transformation in Türkiye in the last 20 years, Duran noted that a strong social awareness has been created on preventing violence thanks to the legal steps taken and institutional mechanisms developed.

Duran stated that today the state is far from an approach that remains indifferent to a woman victim of violence’s request for help, and said, “The transition from the old mentality of the old to the understanding of ‘the state must and will protect its citizens from all kinds of violence’ has represented an important mental transformation in Türkiye.” he said.

Stating that the state has been providing violence awareness and intervention training to thousands of public employees for years, from police officers to religious officials, from social workers to health and education personnel, Duran said, “We see violence against women as a crime with no mitigating circumstances. At this point, we are trying to build a society that does not include violence and violent language with our practices such as ALO 183 and KADES, along with Law No. 6284.” he said.

Duran stated that President Erdoğan’s insistent stance on women’s visibility in decision-making mechanisms and parliamentary representation is very valuable and said, “We have had more female ministers in the governments he led than ever before throughout the history of our Republic. It is also pleasing for us to have female deputy ministers among us today.” he said.

Pointing out that the rate of female MPs, which was around 4 percent in 2002, has increased steadily and reached 20 percent in 2023, Duran continued his words as follows:

“Regulations such as maternity and breastfeeding leave in working life and flexible working hours for those with young children have been developed to be applied in favor of women. The proposal to increase maternity leave from 16 weeks to 24 weeks is currently on the agenda of our parliament. We have also recorded very important and positive developments in the past century, especially the schooling rate of girls.”

Director of Communications Duran informed that today the ratio of male and female students in secondary and higher education is very close to each other and said:

“While the rate of college graduates for women between the ages of 25 and 29 was 11 percent in the 2010s, this rate increased to over 40 percent in the 2020s. This success shows a revolutionary leap in the field of women’s education since the history of our Republic. We did not carry the loss of rights, violations in the social sphere, and obstacles in schooling and working life that women faced in the 20th century into the 21st century.

Likewise, we have left behind the discriminatory practices of the February 28 coup period, such as the headscarf ban, which directly targeted women. Faced with both political and social obstacles, headscarved women have now taken their rightful place in public spaces. “The right to vote, granted to women in 1934, began to be fully implemented with the lifting of the headscarf ban in 2014 under the leadership of our President.”

Stating that “The vision of the Turkey Century is the vision of a Türkiye where women are protected and empowered in every sense,” Duran said that they will continue to work hard to meet women’s demands for work, justice and equal treatment.

Duran underlined that the Turkish Century is the century of crowning the legal gains achieved by women with structural and sustainable equality of opportunity.

Director of Communications Duran continued his words as follows:

“Turkey supports women’s struggle for rights and freedom in different geographies of the world with its humanitarian justice-based and peace-oriented foreign policy approach that it has maintained for many years. This approach forms the basis of our principled and determined stance against the injustices suffered by women in Syria, Yemen, Africa and many other places on a global scale. Turkey clearly expresses its reaction on every platform against the tragedies that women are exposed to, especially in Palestine, where a brutal genocide is taking place today. On the occasion of Women’s Day, the symbol of resistance in Gaza “I would like to salute the women of Gaza and congratulate their honorable stance that fascinates the world. Our wish is to establish peace as soon as possible in all geographies where conflicts and wars continue, and to provide an environment where women can live their lives in dignity, safety and fear.”

Stating that, as the Presidency, they think that public communication should be carried out with an inclusive approach that strengthens social values, Duran expressed that they hope that the panel will create a constructive dialogue ground between the media, public institutions, academia and non-governmental organizations.

Duran stated that the empowerment of women is the empowerment of society and said, “The role of women is indispensable in the construction of a more equitable future.” he said.

After his speech, Director of Communications Duran presented flowers and gifts to Yurdagül Girgin, the most senior female staff member in the institution.

Prof. Dr. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kübra Güran Yiğitbaşı, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Fatma Varank, KADEM Board Member Sedide Yılmaz Akbulut and Journalist Fadime Özkan also spoke at the “Women, Society and Future Panel” moderated by Emine Sare Aydın.

The statement made by the Ministry of National Defense is as follows;

A ballistic ammunition fired from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense elements stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Some ammunition pieces fell on empty lands in Gaziantep. There was no loss of life or injury in the incident.

Türkiye attaches great importance to good neighborly relations and regional stability. However, we emphasize once again that all necessary steps will be taken with determination and without hesitation against any threat to our country’s territory and airspace. We remind you that it is in everyone’s interest to comply with Türkiye’s warnings in this direction.

It is announced to the public with respect.

“WE STRONGLY REPEAT OUR WARNINGS TO IRAN”

Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran made the following statements:

A ballistic missile, which was detected to have been fired from Iran and directed towards our country, was timely engaged and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense elements in the skies of Şahinbey district of Gaziantep. There was no loss of life or injury in the incident. The development was followed closely by all our institutions from the first moment; Necessary defense and security measures were immediately put into effect.

“ALL OUR UNITS ACT IN COMPLETE COORDINATION”

In this context, all our relevant units, especially the Ministry of National Defense, act in full coordination. Our state’s will and capacity to protect Türkiye’s airspace and border security are at the highest level. It is of great importance that the tension in the region does not escalate further and the conflicts do not spread to a wider area. We once again strongly reiterate our warning to all parties, especially Iran, to stay away from actions that risk regional security and could endanger civilians. In this process, we ask our citizens and media organizations to be sensitive to content that needs confirmation, may cause public panic, and contains disinformation; We kindly ask them to rely only on the statements made by our official authorities.

Iftar tables set up by Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality in Eşrefiye District of Aleppo, Syria, during the month of Ramadan continue to bring hundreds of people together around the same table. The delegation from Trabzon attended the iftar dinner held in Aleppo. Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç emphasized the brotherhood and solidarity between the people of Turkey and Syria and stated that the spirit of sharing and unity of Ramadan was further strengthened at the tables set in Aleppo. In order to examine the aid efforts on site and participate in the iftar program, a delegation consisting of Trabzon Governor Tahir Şahin, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç, AK Party Provincial Chairman Sezgin Mumcu, AK Party Ortahisar District Chairman Seyit Hisoğlu, some council members and municipal administrators. He went to Aleppo. Speaking at the iftar program, Mayor Genç emphasized the spirit of unity and solidarity of Ramadan and stated that they were happy to share the same table with the people of Aleppo together with the delegation from Trabzon.

President Genç stated that Türkiye has always been on the side of the oppressed and said: “We are currently experiencing the peace of being together at the same Ramadan table with our brothers in Aleppo. We are here, together with our delegation from Trabzon, to share the blessings of this holy month and to further strengthen the bridges of our hearts. I wholeheartedly congratulate the effort made for the independence of these lands and the honorable struggle of its people. May God have mercy on our martyrs who lost their lives for this cause.” “I salute our veterans who took part in the struggle with respect and gratitude. It is also meaningful for us to have some of them at our iftar table today.”

OUR EFFORT WILL CONTINUE

President Genç continued his words as follows: “From Aleppo, from this iftar table, I would like to express our gratitude to our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been following determinedly and strongly supporting this just struggle of Syria and Aleppo since the beginning of the process. We are the people of these lands. As the Turkish nation, we will continue to stand by our brothers today and tomorrow, as we did yesterday, to disrupt the games that the imperial powers want to establish in our region. We will share the blessings of Ramadan.”

Thanks to the soup kitchens established by Turkish NGOs in Gaza, Palestinians are experiencing Ramadan at mass iftar tables and patients are also being treated. Turkish Red Crescent teams, which offer hot iftar meals to Palestinians during Ramadan, also distribute basic food ingredients such as bulgur, rice, flour, tomato paste and oil to those who want to cook in their tents. Stating that the aid reached the people of Gaza, albeit with difficulty, Turkish Red Crescent President Fatma Meriç Yılmaz said, “We distribute hot meals to 60 thousand people in Gaza every day from our two soup kitchens. We provide two major supports in terms of hospitals. First, we provide food service to hospitalized patients, doctors and nurses from these soup kitchens. Also, with the agreement we made with the Palestinian Red Crescent, we, as the Turkish Red Crescent, cover all the expenses of two field hospitals.” On the other hand, Caravan of Hope Humanitarian Relief Foundation had surgeries performed on some patients brought from Gaza to Egypt. Electric wheelchairs were distributed to support the lives of 10 disabled women and girls from Gaza who were receiving treatment.

While the wounds of the 6.1 and 6 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Balıkesir on 10 August and 27 October last year were rapidly being healed, it was revealed that AFAD’s request for land allocation from Sındırgı Municipality for earthquake housing to be built in the region had not been included in the parliamentary agenda for 2 months. It was noted that the construction of the houses could not be started due to the obstruction of the Mayor of Sındırgı, CHP’s Serkan Sak. The 6.1 and 6.0 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Sındırgı district of Balıkesir on 10 August and 27 October 2025 caused severe damage to many structures in the district center as well as in the villages of Gölcük, Osmanlar, Kertil and Alacaatlı. Immediately after the earthquake, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum went to Sındırgı and met with the earthquake victims. Listening to the demands of the citizens, the Minister Kurum promised that the disaster residences would be delivered within 1 year. Instead of houses damaged in the earthquake; The foundations of 531 independent sections, including 385 village houses, 135 TOKİ residences and 11 workplaces, were laid in Sındırgı and Bigadiç districts.

IT HAS BEEN WAITED FOR TWO MONTHS

AFAD, which carried out ground survey work in Kınık, Ormaniçi and Şahinkaya Neighborhoods of Sındırgı, determined that the most suitable areas for housing in these 3 rural neighborhoods were the areas of Sındırgı Municipality and the municipality requested the allocation of these areas. CHP Mayor Serkan Sak referred the agenda item submitted to the municipal council to the commission. It was revealed that the relevant article had been kept in the commission for 2 months upon the instructions of Mayor Sak and was never brought to the agenda of the Parliament again.

‘THE PRESIDENT OPPOSES’

Making a statement about the non-allocation of the areas required for the construction of earthquake houses, AK Party Sındırgı District Chairman İsmail Uluhan said, “Some areas owned by the municipality that are suitable for construction in Kınık, Ormaniçi and Şahinkaya neighborhoods were determined by AFAD’s technical teams. It was requested that these areas be transferred to AFAD free of charge by the council decision in order to build earthquake houses. However, Mayor Serkan Sak opposes giving them to AFAD. Whose property are you denying to whom? “Earthquake victims cannot find permanent homes because of you,” he said. It was noteworthy that the municipality did not make a statement on the issue.

The Crime Organization trial of CHP’s Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former president of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, where the public loss of 161 billion, the profiteering of the century, and bribery and corruption in 143 actions were revealed, begins today. Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office completed the IMM corruption investigation on November 11 and prepared a huge 3,806-page indictment against 407 defendants, 105 of whom were detained. Bribery and corruption in 143 actions were described as causing a public loss of 161 billion. The trial, which is expected to last 2 months, will start today in the courtroom No. 1 in the Marmara Closed Penal Institution Campus (Silivri).

REQUEST FOR UP TO 2 THOUSAND 352 YEARS OF PRISON

In the indictment, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was held responsible for 142 actions as the leader of the organization, was accused of “establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime”, “recording personal data”, “seizing and disseminating personal data”, “concealing criminal evidence”, “obstructing communication”, “damaging public property”, “bribery”, “publicly disseminating misleading information”, “extortion”, “fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations”, “devaluation of assets resulting from crime”. Up to 2,352 years of imprisonment was requested for the crimes of “laundering”, “tender rigging”, “deliberate pollution of the environment”, and violation of the Tax Procedure Law, Forest Law and Mining Law.

53.5 BILLION WAS STEAMED

One of the most critical points in the indictment was the fate of billions of euros of loans received from abroad for rail systems. According to the indictment, the total size of 14 separate loans is 2 billion 36 million euros and 1 billion 588 million dollars. According to the exchange rate of the period in which they were purchased, the total amount reaches 69 billion 516 million lira. Although there was a “cannot be used for purposes other than allocation” condition for these loans, it was determined that 53 billion 532 million lira of them were used for purposes other than their intended purpose. Some of the resources were first transferred to municipal subsidiaries. According to the findings, this figure is 13 billion 836 million lira. Then, through irregular tenders through these subsidiaries, it was directed to companies linked to names such as İmamoğlu, Fatih Keleş and Murat Ongun. Some payments were transferred directly to private companies. The directly transferred figure was determined as 6 billion 189 million lira. It was determined that 1 billion 200 million liras were transferred to companies in the media and advertising sector named Mişel Organizasyon and Reklam, Adgreat Digital Media and Creative Medya Reklam.

THE WHEEL OF BRIBERY IN THE BOSPHORUS

One of the most serious income items of the İmamoğlu Crime Organization was the irregularities committed in the Bosphorus, where the ultra-rich reside. The organization targeted high-level capital owners who owned waterside mansions on the Bosphorus or had villas on the Bosphorus ridge. These people apply to the Boğaziçi Zoning Directorate for a renovation or repair that they are entitled to. Elçin Karaoğlu, the manager of the unit, and engineer Yakup Öner, the “Shadow Boğaziçi Zoning Manager”, acting on behalf of İmamoğlu, step in. After these names come into contact with the businessmen, the ball is passed to Fatih Keleş. The amount of bribe to be requested is determined by evaluating the political-social status and capital size of businessmen.

HERE ARE THE ORGANIZATION MANAGERS

The indictment also includes detailed information about the duties and roles of the names stated to be the leaders of the organization within the organization. It is stated that Fatih Keleş, who was appointed as a “consultant” after İmamoğlu became the President of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and became the head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club, was positioned as the “second man” and “secret safe” in the organization. It is claimed that Keleş conducted bribery negotiations with some business people and decided who would win the tenders. Media Inc. President Murat Ongun is Medya A.Ş. and Kültür A.Ş. It is noted that it is effective in the tenders given through the company, and some tenders are directed to certain companies through subcontractors.