Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş attended the Antalya Diplomatic Forum. Minister Göktaş noted that there are preparations for regulation regarding digital games and emphasized social media platforms.

Stating that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave important messages at the forum about global uncertainties and decisive steps for the future, Göktaş emphasized that Türkiye is a mediator in global diplomacy and one of the leading countries of peace and hope.

Drawing attention to the effects of the digital age on family structure and children, Göktaş stated that social media and digital platforms may contain some risks.

“CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE”

“The 15-year-old social media regulation is a very important article that came to the agenda not only in our country but also in Australia first. After this bill, Australia issued a regulation and gave social media platforms one year.” Göktaş said, however, that England, France and Spain in Europe have also implemented similar draft resolutions.

Pointing out that there are studies in this field in Türkiye, Göktaş said, “We are also working on a model specific to our country. We have been working on this issue with children, families and academics for about 18 months. We have examined international studies and have implemented a model specific to our country. Because children are our future.” he said.

Stating that children are a generation born into digital media, while previous generations adapted to these technologies later, Göktaş noted that there is a common will to regulate new digital habits.

Stating that they are working to provide a safe digital environment for children and ensure their safety, Göktaş emphasized that especially the control mechanisms should be strengthened in social media regulation for children under the age of 15.

REGULATION IS COMING TO DIGITAL GAMES

Göktaş explained that they envisage that children under the age of 15 should not be able to access social media, and that on the other hand, if social network providers have more than 1 million users in Türkiye, they will appoint a representative to the country and said, “We also have a regulation regarding games. There is a very high demand from families and we really see intense support from the public on this issue. We aimed to ensure that children have access to the internet and the digital age in the safest way.” he said.

Göktaş said that they want to implement this work in the coming days.

Stating that they know that the digital age and technologies can weaken family ties, Göktaş stated that they will host an international forum to protect children in digital media in Ankara on 21 and 22 April.

Pointing out that women and girls are most affected by war environments and climate crises, Göktaş stated that various studies will be carried out within the scope of COP31.

GLOBAL COOPERATION IN FAMILY POLICIES

Reminding that last year was declared the “Year of the Family”, Göktaş stated that the next 10 years were planned as the “Decade of Family and Population”.

“Antalya Diplomacy Forum is a very important meeting to move our family diplomacy forward.” Göktaş said, “We will hold a bilateral meeting with the Syrian Minister of Family and sign an agreement for the family, women, children and the disabled.” he said.

Pointing out that we are in a period when family ties are weakened and the family institution is faced with various effects, Göktaş said that Türkiye is carrying out extensive studies in the field of family diplomacy.

Göktaş said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized these issues at the 78th, 79th and 80th general assemblies of the United Nations and said, “Our family is our future.” He stated that he gave his message.

Stating that they are carrying out joint studies not only in Turkey but also in many countries in this context, Göktaş said, “While we are carrying out long-term studies within the scope of the Family and Population 10 Year in Türkiye, we also have a draft decision for the Family and Population 10 Year within the scope of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We have received support from 7 countries so far and hopefully, we expect our Family and Population 10 Year draft decision to be published in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the coming period.” he said.

Minister Göktaş concluded his words as follows:

“On the other hand, the Year of the Family is not only in our country. After declaring it in our country, Egypt, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates also declared it as the Year of the Family in their own countries. Serbia started these activities as the 10th Year of Family and Population. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is similar. Nigeria started to implement our family action plan in its own country as well. In other words, we are in a period where awareness about the family is increasing.”

Later, Göktaş visited the AA stand and visited the “15 July Memorial Room” created for the 10th anniversary of the 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day and received information from AA Chairman and General Manager Serdar Karagöz.

The Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM) denied the claims that ‘the perpetrator of the attack on a secondary school in Kahramanmaraş did not die’.

In the statement made on DMM’s NSosyal account, the following was noted:

“The claims circulated in some social media channels and digital platforms that the perpetrator of the tragic incident in Kahramanmaraş was not dead are completely unfounded and do not reflect the truth. The judicial and medical processes regarding the attacker in question were completed and the person was buried on April 16. Contrary to this fact, which is confirmed by official records, the posts made are a conscious perception operation and black propaganda that aims to exploit social sensitivities, damage the bond of trust between the state and the nation, and shake our national unity and integrity.” activity.”

In the statement, which stated that, as required by the rule of law, the necessary legal processes have been initiated against those responsible for such content that publicly disseminates misleading information to the public and threatens social peace, and added: “We are kindly requested to be sensitive to posts containing disinformation aimed at disturbing the peace of our nation, and to only take into account the statements made by official authorities.” The expression was used.

The claims circulated in some social media channels and digital platforms that the perpetrator of the tragic incident in Kahramanmaraş is not dead are completely unfounded and do not reflect the truth.

Forensic and medical processes regarding the attacker in question have been completed; person… pic.twitter.com/ZcDoR0GnWI

— Center for Combating Disinformation (@dmmiletisim) April 18, 2026

Under the coordination of the National Intelligence Organization, a joint study was initiated against the information systems of public institutions and organizations and the cybercrime structure targeting the personal data of citizens. Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, 12 suspects were detained in raids carried out in Istanbul, Konya, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Manisa, Mardin, Batman, Çanakkale and Hakkari by the Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie Command Cyber ​​Crimes Branch Directorate teams.

MIT FOLLOWED STEP BY STEP
As a result of the studies carried out, it was determined that the structure operated by gaining unauthorized access to the systems through malicious software targeting the identity and account information of some users working in public institutions. It was determined that the data obtained was marketed through a multi-layered structure and transferred to third parties through the “dealership system”. During the operation, many domestic and international servers, data storage systems and digital materials were seized.

DATA TO TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
Within the scope of the investigation, the suspect, who established and managed the technical infrastructure of the organization and carried out his activities using a code name to hide his identity, was caught in Mardin. It was determined that the suspect shared the data obtained through the system he established with different criminal elements, especially terrorist organizations and fraud networks, and that this structure allowed it to be used in organized crime activities.

Ayla Kara’s sons, Furkan and Ertuğrul Kara, talked about their mother’s sacrifice and courage. Ayla Kara’s lawyer son, Furkan Kara, stated that he was proud of his mother and said, “A son can only be so proud of his mother. I knew that my mother was my hero, but she also became a hero in her school. I can’t be more proud of this. It is really our faith that keeps us alive right now. Without our faith, it is not a pain that can be sustained or endured. I mean, I don’t know what could be greater pain for a person than losing his mother, we are very sad. Our only consolation is that one of the students whom my mother protected survived. He is a great pain for my brother.” I’m glad.”

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HIS MEMORY
Ertuğrul Kara, who studies at Boğaziçi University Computer Engineering Department, said, “My mother’s contribution to my success at school is great. I am grateful to her. I am proud of my mother. Yes, we are very sorry, but she made a great sacrifice for her students. That’s why I can’t be more proud of her. All her students loved her very much.”

FAMILY IS RESPONSIBLE
Ramazan Kara, the husband of teacher AYLA, said, “A teacher who devoted his life to his students should not end up with his student. My daughter is a psychotherapist. This child was mentally disabled, although she should have gone to a special education center, the family sent her to this school as if nothing was wrong. She was suspended from school 3 times. It is a big mistake to keep her in the same environment with other children. The parents of that child are responsible for this.”

The 10-year prison sentence given to AG (17), who shot and murdered his schoolmate 16-year-old Mehmet Eren Parlak with a gun in front of his friends in the school gym in Karaman, in front of his friends in the school gym due to a girl issue, was approved by the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Konya Regional Court of Justice, with the 10-year prison sentence given to him for the crime of ‘intentional murder against a child’, with the reductions of being under age at the time of the incident, ‘unfair provocation’ and ‘good conduct’. Stating that they were once again devastated by the decision, father Önder Parlak (44) said, “The last resort is the Supreme Court. I will seek my son’s rights until the end. Hopefully, this will not be the price for my son’s life and this penalty will increase.”

10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT WITH ALL REDUCTIONS
AG, who was tried by the Karaman 2nd High Criminal Court as a juvenile court, said, “I regret the incident. I wish such things had not happened.” The court board stated that there was no premeditation in the incident, contrary to the indictment, and sentenced AG to 10 years in prison for the crime of ‘intentional killing of a child’, applying a ‘good conduct’ discount, considering that he was a minor at the time of the incident, ‘unfair provocation’ since it could not be determined who caused the unfair act, and the possible effects of the sentence on the defendant’s future. AG was also sentenced to 10 months in prison for the crime of ‘opposition to law no. 6136’ and 3 months and 21 days in prison for the crime of ‘threat’, while it was decided that there was no punishment for the crime of ‘insult’.

APPEAL DECISION APPROVED
Upon the objection of Parlak’s family and the lawyers of the Ministry of Family and Social Services to the decision, the file was sent to the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Konya Regional Court of Justice. The court, which examined the file, approved the 10-year prison sentence for the crime of ‘intentional murder of a child’, with the possibility of appeal, and the sentences given for the crimes of ‘opposition to law no. 6136’, ‘threat’ and ‘insult’. Stating that they were once again devastated by the decision, father Önder Parlak (44) said, “The last resort is the Supreme Court. I will seek my son’s rights until the end. Hopefully, this will not be the price for my son’s life and this penalty will increase.”

The appeal ruled to overturn the 102 years and 4 months prison sentence given to the detained defendant Seçil Erzan, who was tried in the fraud case publicly known as the “highly profitable secret fund”. The 22nd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice completed its review of the 102 years and 4 months prison sentence given to the defendant Erzan by the Istanbul 41st High Criminal Court for the crimes of “qualified fraud” and “forgery of private documents”. The chamber found the appeal objections justified, stating that the first instance court did not include the combined file information when making the decision, which caused difficulty in auditing. Stating that some procedures were not followed during the trial of the defendant Erzan, the Chamber ruled that the decision was reversed and the file was sent back to the local court. While the chamber overturned the prison sentence decisions given to some defendants on the grounds that some procedures were not implemented, it found the decisions given to some defendants to be lawful. The Istanbul 41st High Criminal Court, which decided the case on December 1, 2025, sentenced the defendant Seçil Erzan to a total of 102 years and 4 months in prison and a total judicial fine of 753 thousand 880 liras for “qualified fraud”, “forgery of private documents” and “abuse of trust” against 27 complainants. In the decision, the committee also decided to postpone the announcement of the sentence of 1 year, 10 months and 15 days in prison for the crime of “forgery of private documents” and ruled that Erzan be subject to probation for 5 years for this crime.