Politics
Turkish minister vows fight against drugs, ‘fight for future’
Mustafa Çiftçi, who was appointed as Interior Minister in February, underlined that they were working for the “Century of Peace” as the Republic of Türkiye is now in its second century. “Our security paradigm is centered on prevention,” he told journalists at a panel in Ankara on Tuesday about the media’s role in the fight against drugs.
Çiftçi said drugs were “a cluster of problems” and expanded organized crime networks, adding that they were also a source of revenue for financing terrorism. “It is a dark swamp feeding many crimes. It is our responsibility as the state to drain it,” he said.
Türkiye has long been a critical transit hub for illicit drug trafficking due to its location bridging Europe and Asia. It is on the so-called Balkan Route where heroin from Asia is trafficked to Europe, while synthetic drugs manufactured in Europe are trafficked to Asian countries.
The minister said Türkiye’s strategic location meant great opportunities in other fields, but it also meant a greater responsibility for the fight against crimes across borders. He noted that Türkiye’s struggle was not only a security matter confined to its own borders, citing the drug trafficking routes, international crime rings and regional instability, adding that it contributed to regional and global security. “Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are building upon a vision for peace, security, stability and a strong social structure. We center our vision on family, youth, the future,” he said.
Çiftçi noted that the fight against drugs was not limited to counternarcotics operations, capturing suspects and legal procedures. “We are operating on a holistic approach, diagnosing the risk at its source, closing the paths to crimes, protecting the youth, raising awareness among families,” he said. The minister stated that one of the most important tools of this approach is the Project Support System (PRODES), carried out within the ministry’s Directorate General for Relations with Civil Society. “Our ministry provides grant support to associations in exchange for projects, the institutional capacities of our NGOs are strengthened, public-NGO cooperation is improved, and solutions to social problems are produced through voluntary organizations.”
Referring to the prevention projects carried out by the Ministry of Interior, Çiftçi reported that 9,798,000 citizens have been reached through these efforts.
“Between Jan. 1 and April 25, 2026, we carried out 17,188 operations against drug manufacturing and trafficking. In these operations, 16.8 tons of narcotics, 51.2 million drug pills, and 49,000 cannabis and skunk drugs (a cheap hybrid drug) were seized. The fact that 46 of the 298 organized crime groups we targeted were focused on narcotic crimes clearly shows how intertwined the drug threat is with organized crime, street violence, illegal money networks and the financing of terrorism.”
Expressing that the role of the media in the fight against drugs is a matter of utmost importance, Çiftçi said: “We see the media as one of our most strategic stakeholders that raises social awareness, warns families, protects youth, brings the public together with accurate information, and carries the will to fight to the broad masses. I would especially like to state that every media representative here undertakes a very valuable responsibility that appeals to the common conscience of society. This is because, in this struggle, words are at least as important as operations. News language, visual choices, headlines, repeated expressions and broadcast flow directly affect social perception. Any narrative that encourages, normalizes, sensationalizes or arouses curiosity about drugs causes great harm to the struggle.”
Çiftçi stated that any expression that portrays drugs as attractive, pleasurable, or easily accessible creates a risk for young people. He emphasized the need to avoid news language that marginalizes, hurts or portrays addicted individuals as helpless or dangerous. Since last year, a string of high-profile drug busts targeted celebrities, from singers and actors to social media influencers. Dozens of suspects were detained and tested for drugs.
As Parliament passed a new law to restrict social media for children, the minister of Family and Social Services says there may be more on the way.
The country has been working since 2024 on new restrictions targeting social media use by children under 15, as part of a broader effort to protect families in the digital age, Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said on Tuesday. Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Göktaş said that one of the key pillars of the government’s Family Protection and Strengthening Action Plan is safeguarding children and families in an increasingly digital environment. “On the one hand, we aim to raise digital literacy awareness among families, but on the other, we will not leave our children at the mercy of algorithms, big companies, and digital and technology firms,” she said. “We know very well that they generate significant profits through these platforms and over our children.”
She said that the ministry held workshops in 2024 on digital addiction, bringing together parents, children, and experts, as well as separate sessions focused on protecting children in digital spaces. She noted that children, particularly while gaming, tend to choose darker, more powerful characters, often associated with weapons, and may sometimes identify with them in real life, a trend she described as striking and concerning.
Pointing to rising screen time, Göktaş said children’s age of entry into social media has dropped to as young as six.
She also warned of the long-term risks of children’s digital footprint, saying online activity at a young age could lead to legal consequences later. “In the coming years, children under 15 may face various legal cases simply because of what they shared online. We are already seeing such cases. Content posted at age 14 can resurface at 17 or 18, leading to serious legal outcomes that could affect their lives. This is very dangerous, and parents need to be aware.”
The minister said the government’s goal is not to ban platforms but to regulate them. She noted that similar regulations are being introduced globally, citing measures in the EU, Australia, France and Spain, adding that Türkiye has developed its own model based on international examples.
Under the planned regulation, social media platforms will be required to implement age verification systems for users under 15, appoint representatives if they have more than 1 million users in Türkiye, remove inappropriate content within one hour, eliminate misleading advertisements, and strengthen parental control tools.
Göktaş also said that, for the first time, gaming platforms will be included in the regulatory framework. Under amendments to the relevant law, platforms with more than 100,000 users will be required to appoint representatives in Türkiye.
Sanctions will apply to non-compliant companies, she said, adding that a secondary regulation is expected within six months, after which the rules will be fully implemented nationwide.
“This regulation requires about six months, as a bylaw needs to be issued,” she said. “The process will involve the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), the cybersecurity department, experts and other stakeholders. We, as the ministry, will also contribute our views, because protecting children is a necessity.” She emphasized that families must also be part of the process. “Our aim is to supervise and provide a safer digital environment for children. We want them to exist and be empowered in that space, but if dependency arises, we also want to prevent it. We are setting a norm,” she said.
The new law bans children under the age of 15 from entering social media while tasking companies to set up safe online spaces for them. It put Türkiye on the map of countries seeking ways to protect the impressionable young people from online risks, from radicalization to fraud, sexual abuse and cyberbullying. The law has been on the agenda of lawmakers for some time now, but two school shootings earlier this month appear to be fast-tracking its passing. The second school shooting in the province of Kahramanmaraş by a 14-year-old boy sparked a debate about social media. In the aftermath of the attack that killed 10 people, a barrage of online threats against schools was uncovered, and security forces found out that those behind the threats were mostly underage. The perpetrator’s reported online activity linking him to manipulative content promoting violence has also raised concerns.
Türkiye abstained from using the term “ban” for children, but the bill rather refers to the move as creating safe digital spaces for children under the age of 15. An age verification system will be introduced to prevent children’s access to inappropriate content. Social media companies will be tasked with informing users of the restrictions. They will also be mandated to provide clear, user-friendly parental control tools. These tools will include management of accounts (of children), parental permission for subscription-based processes, purchases or rentals, as well as monitoring usage time and options to restrict screen time for children. Social media companies will also be mandated to prevent deceptive ads. Companies with more than 10 million daily accesses from Türkiye will be required to comply with the authorities’ order to take measures against social media accounts within one hour.
Separately, the bill requires gaming platforms to sell or host unrated games or mandate hosting them at the highest age limit.
The law is expected to be given final approval by the president within 15 days. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has already announced that they would take measures to mitigate the online risks to children’s safety and privacy, in remarks in the wake of school shootings.
Australia was the first country to introduce restrictions on social media access for children under 16 last December. The restrictions led social media companies to revoke access to more than 4 million accounts. In March, Indonesia followed suit, while Spain, France and the United Kingdom are working on measures to restrict social media access to children.
Göktaş said Türkiye recently hosted an international summit on protecting children in digital environments and issued a joint declaration with UNICEF. “All countries are going through a similar process,” she said. “At the summit, one of the key points was that no country can address this issue alone. Technology is evolving rapidly.” She said the declaration calls on technology companies to prevent harmful content targeting children from the design stage of games and digital services. “We are also implementing an age verification system. This is a comprehensive and secure policy. Türkiye is one of the leading countries in this area,” she said. “Our goal is to protect children, ensure a safer digital environment, and not leave families alone in this process.”
Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday attended the 11th Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as part of efforts to boost regional cooperation in energy, transport and digital infrastructure.
According to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Fidan represented President Erdoğan at the summit, which brings together countries located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black seas to enhance cooperation across key strategic sectors.
Launched in 2015, the Three Seas Initiative serves as a presidential-level platform uniting 12 European Union member states. It focuses on strengthening connectivity and fostering economic development across Central and Eastern Europe, particularly through joint projects in transportation, energy security and digital infrastructure.
On the sidelines of the summit, Fidan met with Borjana Kristo, chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The talks in Dubrovnik addressed bilateral ties as well as regional developments, highlighting Türkiye’s continued engagement in the Balkans.
The initiative aims to narrow development gaps within the European Union while reinforcing regional resilience, as participating countries seek to deepen cooperation in infrastructure and strategic connectivity.
The Greek Cypriot administration’s plan for the deployment of French troops to the divided island has angered Turkish Cypriots.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ünal Üstel slammed remarks by the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration on deploying French soldiers in southern Cyprus, saying it was “an extremely dangerous, provocative and unacceptable step.”
Üstel said the remarks were likely to cause “serious damage to the atmosphere of peace and stability on the island.”
“On the one hand, (Nikos) Christodoulides and his mindset speak of a new negotiation process; on the other hand, they ignore and disregard the Turkish Cypriot people. This contradictory attitude clearly reveals his real intention,” he said on Monday, according to local media.
He underscored that any military presence or military step on the island requires the consent and approval of the Turkish Cypriot people. Any move taken without such approval, he said, would be “null and void under international law.”
“No EU member can make decisions or take actions that disregard the TRNC’s sovereign rights and security,” Üstel said.
“(French President Emmanuel) Macron’s arrogant remarks and attitude are also noteworthy. France, known for its colonial mentality in almost every country it enters, can offer the Greek Cypriots only great disappointment in the long term.
“France, a member of the EU, which is one of the biggest obstacles to a just and lasting solution in Cyprus, attempting to deploy troops on the island is also a clear indication of the EU’s hypocritical policy,” he added.
“Abandoning the colonial approach to the Cyprus issue and adopting a fair stance” are expected from Macron and the EU, he stressed.
Üstel said steps taken, or intended to be taken, while ignoring Turkish Cypriots “will certainly receive the necessary response.”
“You are turning southern Cyprus into a base for foreign soldiers and a sphere of influence for foreign powers. This policy will bring no benefit either to you or to the Greek Cypriot people. My advice is that you abandon these dangerous steps as soon as possible; otherwise, you will once again be the losing side,” he warned, addressing Christodoulides.
Christodoulides announced on Sunday that they would sign an agreement with France for the deployment, for “humanitarian purposes.” He said the agreement was expected to be finalized in June. The Greek Cypriot leader recently welcomed Macron to the island, a few months after the two sides signed a strategic partnership agreement.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani incurred the wrath of the Turkish American community after his remarks regarding the so-called Armenian “genocide.”
The community on Monday staged a protest where several Turkish associations rallied in Times Square. Protesters chanted slogans and carried placards to protest the remarks, while a small group of Armenian Americans confronted the protesters.
Digital trucks displaying information countering the claims mentioned by Mamdani also passed through Times Square. Trucks displayed information about the history of the issue, as well as information about Turkish diplomats and civilians killed by the Armenian terrorist group ASALA in the 1970s and 1980s, including in the U.S.
Participants said in a statement issued regarding the protest that the mayor’s characterization of recent developments in Karabakh was inaccurate. The statement noted that, as mayor of a city bringing together diverse cultures and ethnic groups, Mamdani’s remarks risk alienating communities he is responsible for serving.
It also stressed that the events of 1915-1923 should be evaluated in light of historical facts and called for avoiding rhetoric that deepens misunderstandings.
In his social media post marking the anniversary of the 1915 events, Mamdani said “1.5 million Armenians” were killed by the Ottoman Empire and claimed that Azerbaijan and Türkiye attacked Armenians in Karabakh in 2020, adding that more than 100,000 Armenians were “expelled” from the region in 2023.
Türkiye objects to the presentation of the 1915 incidents as “genocide,” describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.
Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Türkiye and Armenia, as well as international experts, to tackle the issue.
Gökhan Doğan, vice president of the Turkish American National Steering Committee, said at the rally that they convened to exhibit a strong stand against the remarks. “Mamdani’s words deeply hurt the Turkish American community. It has been a routine for Armenians to bring their lies into politics. We will continue telling that this should remain a matter for historians. We are deeply affected that Mamdani joined this plot,” he said. Doğan said that their community would remain standing united against untrue allegations.
Addressing the protest, Gülay Aydemir, chair of the Federation of Turkish American Associations, said it does not matter who voiced the lies. “We are here for Türkiye to advocate the truth. I believe we have to raise our voice stronger against the mayor’s remarks. As long as we stand united, such remarks will not be repeated,” she said.
Mamdani’s remarks also irked Türkiye, while the mayor also claimed that Türkiye “attacked Karabakh” in the same social media post during Azerbaijan’s offensive to liberate its territory from the Armenian occupation in 2020. Yet, Türkiye had a toned-down or more general response to the allegations of genocide.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on April 24 that a growing climate of peace and reconciliation in the South Caucasus reflects a strong push by regional actors seeking stability and cooperation, while warning against efforts to inflame tensions rooted in historical disputes. In a statement, the ministry said parties involved in discussions over the events of 1915 share a clear stance against the politicization of the issue, criticizing some third-country politicians for exploiting the matter for narrow political interests or to deflect from their own responsibilities.
Ankara reiterated that Türkiye, which it said has long embodied a culture of coexistence, has opened its archives and continues to support the establishment of a joint history commission to examine the events of 1915 in a fair and objective manner. The proposal, the ministry noted, remains on the table. Calling for a forward-looking approach, the ministry urged third parties with constructive intentions to support ongoing dialogue efforts and contribute to building a shared and just historical understanding, as well as reinforcing the region’s emerging atmosphere of cooperation.
Türkiye’s position on the 1915 events is that the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia took place when some sided with the invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties, made worse by massacres conducted by militaries and militia groups from both sides. The mass arrests of prominent Ottoman Armenian politicians, intellectuals and other community members suspected of links with separatist groups, harboring nationalist sentiments and being hostile to Ottoman rule occurred in the then-capital city of Istanbul on April 24, 1915. The date is commemorated as the beginning of later “atrocities.” Ankara objects to the presentation of these incidents as “genocide,” describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.
Ankara is of the opinion that controversial episodes in history, such as the events of 1915, should be studied without prejudice by respecting the scientific and legal principles to write a just account of the incidents. With this understanding, Türkiye proposed the establishment of a Joint History Commission and opened its archives.
Mamdani’s statements had prompted Azerbaijan to issue a scathing criticism as well. Aykhan Hajizada, spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, responded to statements regarding Karabakh on social media on April 25 and has called Mamdani to “act responsibly and refrain from spreading misinformation.”
“We reject your inflammatory statement. Such remarks demonstrate a lack of understanding of history and realities of the region, and distort facts for political narratives. In 2020, Azerbaijan acted within its internationally recognized sovereign territory, in line with international law and UN Security Council resolutions. The counter-terror measures of 2023 resulted in restoration of Azerbaijan’s constitutional order following three decades of illegal occupation. Claims of ‘expulsion’ ignore the fact that Armenian residents were offered reintegration, full equal rights, and security guarantees. It is particularly troubling that an elected official promotes one-sided narratives while ignoring ethnic cleansing and massacres against hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis during the occupation period, as well as destruction of cultural and religious heritage.”
Such reckless statements are unacceptable and should be removed without delay, Hajizada said in his post.
A divorce dispute in Istanbul has turned into a terrorism investigation after a man said he found documents, photographs and handwritten notes allegedly linking his wife to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), according to a report by Sabah newspaper.
M.D., 36, who married Sibel D., 33, in 2024, told authorities he discovered the materials while organizing his wife’s dowry boxes after the couple’s brief marriage began to break down.
According to the complaint filed with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the boxes contained diaries, photographs and alleged organizational correspondence. M.D. claimed the handwritten notes referred to Sibel D.’s position within the group, meetings with senior figures and career-related plans.
Investigators said some of the people seen in the photographs were either fugitives or previously identified in FETÖ-related investigations.
Authorities also found that several individuals had been subject to legal action in different provinces, while one person was listed as a fugitive.
The report said Sibel D. was alleged to have served as a “regional student supervisor,” responsible for 43 students, and to have maintained contact with a “trustee board.” One letter reportedly ended with a note instructing the recipient to destroy it after reading.
Counterterrorism teams reviewed the documents submitted by M.D., while the Van Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a broader investigation into Sibel D., whose name was also allegedly found in a ByLock database, according to the report.
M.D. told Sabah that his home had been used “like a logistics center for a terrorist group.”
The case later widened into family-related criminal allegations. M.D. accused his wife’s relatives of raiding his home and stealing jewelry after he decided to divorce.
The FETÖ investigation and divorce case remain ongoing.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday that they were seeking to “read the change and manage it well” as the world was going through a transformation in the age of artificial intelligence and robotics.
The Turkish leader was speaking at the OECD Skills summit in Ankara. The summit is hosted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and was attended by representatives of agencies and governments from dozens of countries. It focused on the impact of artificial intelligence and related developments on the workforce, skills that will be required in employment in the future and adapting education systems to these changes.
The president said that it was clear that the pace of transformation cannot be changed or prevented, but the decision-makers can shape it. “We see major changes in employment in particular. The technological developments transform methods of production, evolve occupations. Some jobs disappear while others emerge,” he said. Erdoğan stated that the summit was significant and hoped that it would contribute to shaping the global skills policies. “The international studies demonstrate that population of working age in most of OECD countries is shrinking. Our population is aging and our labor markets face new pressures, new challenges. Digital and green transformation radically change the features of skill demands. Labor demand inevitably drops in some sectors while there is a shortage in finding employees in new fields of employment,” he said. “This is also experienced by our country. Widespread use of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies bring about new opportunities, along with new concerns,” he said.
He noted that education is a priority in this new process. “Knowledge is one of the greatest resources for a country, a company or an individual. The outdated knowledge, however, is a burden. It is essential to process knowledge, to transform it as much as having it. So, the education, with all its components, should adapt to the pace of change,” he said. Erdoğan pointed out that OECD surveys indicated that students’ basic skills in many countries were in decline and the teaching workforce was aging. “We are no longer living in an era where education starts at school and ends with obtaining a diploma. Education is now a lifelong dynamic process,” he said. Erdoğan also noted that the world population was aging and this meant that people would spend more time in the workforce compared to the past decades. “Add this extreme individualization and dissolution of traditional family structure as well as selfishness and we face a serious situation,” he warned.
Erdoğan stated that on this matter, Türkiye was ahead of many countries, pointing out to strong family ties and a culture of charity and solidarity. He added that his government was strengthening the family with new projects and keeping everyone covered with the world’s most comprehensive social security system.
The president said they also concentrated on the education of adults. “Updating the skills of adults, giving them skills in new fields and helping them to adapt to the change is critical. Flexible education models, career guidance mechanisms and efficient collaborations with employers will be defining factors in labor markets. Lifelong learning will also boost countries’ competitive edge,” he said. Erdoğan said discrimination in the workforce meant the absence of a fair order and noted that Türkiye managed to improve women’s participation in the workforce to that extent. “This rate was 27.9% when our governments came to power and it has now risen to 34.7,” he underlined. He said they removed all barriers women faced in participation in social life, the economy and education. In this context, he referred to a new benefit for women that Parliament recently approved by increasing maternity leave to 24 weeks for working mothers.
Türkiye plans more social media rules, strict oversight for children
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