The Ministry of Justice announced that a “holistic rehabilitation model” has been implemented, ranging from the fight against addiction to vocational courses, from psychosocial support mechanisms to social and sports activities. In the Ministry’s statement, it was stated that convicts in penal institutions are supported to gain healthy habits, reintegrate into society as productive individuals and establish a life away from crime.

“WE STRENGTHEN THE HUMAN-CENTERED APPROACH”

In his assessment, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the penal system continues to be strengthened with a “people-centered, protective and rehabilitative” approach.

TARGET: CRIME-FREE, PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS

In his statement, Minister Gürlek noted that the aim is to reintegrate the convicts into society as “crime-free, productive and responsible individuals” by supporting them psychologically, socially and professionally. It was stated that psychosocial support programs, vocational training, art and sports activities and spiritual guidance studies are among the basic elements of this process.

“CONCEPTION OF EXECUTION THAT STRENGTHENS SOCIAL PEACE”

The statement also emphasized that the new generation execution approach, “based on human dignity”, aims to strengthen social peace and prioritize recovery.

In his statement on his virtual media account, Minister Göktaş said, “We stand by our citizens affected by the flood disaster in Şanlıurfa and Samsun. In this context, we transferred resources of 30 million liras to the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations operating in both provinces in order to meet the urgent and basic needs of our citizens affected by the disaster in the first place. Our SYDV teams continue to carry out field investigations, household visits and damage assessment studies in coordination with the relevant institutions. Psychosocial support “We have been on the field with our teams from the first moment. We provide psychosocial support services to our citizens affected by the disaster. May God protect our country and nation from all kinds of disasters.”

We stand with our citizens affected by the flood disaster in Şanlıurfa and Samsun.

In this context, Social Assistance and Solidarity, which operates in both provinces, in order to meet the urgent and basic needs of our citizens affected by the disaster in the first place.

— Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş (@MahinurOzdemir) May 13, 2026

‘TURKEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCESS WITH ITS PROJECTS’

Uraloğlu said, “Turkey actively participates and contributes to initiatives under the coordination of ITU in order to accelerate and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Turkey, an important stakeholder of the World Information Society Summit (WSIS) process, also contributes to the process with the projects it carries out. We have reached a significant maturity with the strategy and technical infrastructure we have created with the vision of becoming an international brand in cyber security. Our country received full points in all headings in ITU’s Global Cyber Security Index.” “We are among the Level 1 ‘Role Model’ countries and among the Level 5 countries, which is the highest level in the ITU Information Technologies Regulatory Tracking System evaluation. These achievements confirm the strong position of our regulatory capacity, institutional competence and digital governance understanding in the international arena.”

‘WE RESERVE OUR WILL TO CONTINUE OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL’

Minister Uraloğlu said that they also support international cooperation that will ensure the fair sharing of technological progress among all countries, and said, “There is a strong harmony between ITU’s priorities and Türkiye’s digitalization vision. In this direction and as a reflection of our long-standing constructive cooperation with ITU; I hereby express once again Türkiye’s candidacy for the ITU council membership in the pp-26 elections to be held for the 2027-2030 period. As Turkey, we are active, constructive and responsible within the council.” “We maintain our strong will to continue our contributions,” he said.

‘WE ARE TAKING DECISIVE STEPS TO SECURE THE DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM’

Uraloğlu stated that they are not content with just improving the infrastructure in the digital transformation journey, and said, “We are also taking determined steps to make the digital ecosystem safer, more responsible and human-oriented. With this understanding, we have achieved another important milestone with the ‘New Social Media and Gaming Platforms Regulation’, which came into force on May 1, 2026. This law is the product of a protective and regulatory vision that focuses on protecting our children in the digital world, in particular. With this law, Türkiye has joined the ITU.” “It makes a concrete contribution to the ‘Safe and Inclusive Digital Future’ vision and shows the world that it is possible to balance technological progress with ethical and human values. This regulation is a humane approach that does not ban social media, but transforms it into a safer and more responsible medium, strengthening families while protecting our children from risks. With these regulations, Turkey will continue to take firm steps towards becoming both a pioneer and a protective country in the digital field,” he said.

KARAGÖZOĞLU: “WE MUST KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS”

BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu said, “We came together with the senior executives of the regulatory institutions in the field of electronic communications from countries from all over the world, at the ‘Regulatory Institution Heads’ meeting to reduce the obstacles to keeping up with technological progress and to create clear and result-oriented frameworks. We accepted the ‘GSR-26 Best Practice Guidelines’ document, which is considered the most important outcome of this high-level meeting and GSR-26.” “This guidance document, adopted after each GSR, reflects the collective wisdom and practical experience of regulatory institutions working to ensure that digital markets serve the public interest. This year’s guidance document not only focuses on what regulatory institutions should aim for, but also addresses how they can realistically respond to the rapidly changing digital environment.”

THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MAY 15

Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Ömer Fatih Sayan, BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, ITU Telecommunication Development Sector Director Cosmas Zavavaza, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary General Doreen Bogdan Martin attended the program. Organized with the theme ‘Exploring Digital Frontiers’, ITU GSR-26 brought together regulatory institutions, policy makers and digital ecosystem stakeholders from different countries of the world. The symposium, chaired by BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, will continue until May 15. Within the scope of the symposium; Infrastructure, online safety of young people, technology and investment in disaster management will be discussed.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to attend the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High Level Strategic Cooperation Council Meeting and the Unofficial Summit of the Organization of Turkic States.

Erdoğan’s plane landed at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in Astana.

Erdoğan, who got off the plane with his wife Emine Erdoğan in the Hall of Fame section of the airport, was welcomed by Kazakhstan President Kasım Cömert Tokayev, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Astana Mustafa Kapucu and other relevant people.

Erdoğan and Tokayev went to the Hall of Fame accompanied by a show of love from children holding the Turkish flag and the Kazakhstan flag in their hands.

Erdoğan’s plane was accompanied by warplanes during its landing at the airport. Both helicopters at the airport carried the Turkish flag and the Kazakhstan flag. Erdoğan’s accompanying delegation also came to Kazakhstan.

TARGET IN TRADE VOLUME IS 15 BILLION DOLLARS

In the economic leg of the visit, the 15 billion dollar trade volume target between the two countries and cooperation projects in the field of energy will be among the priority agenda items. In this context, new cooperation protocols and agreements in various fields are expected to be signed. In addition, Erdoğan and Tokayev are expected to attend the Türkiye-Kazakhstan Business Forum, meet with business people from both countries and evaluate investment opportunities.

Welcomed with an official ceremony: President Erdoğan in Kazakhstan | Video

LEADERS SUMMIT IN THE SPIRITUAL CAPITAL OF THE TURKISH WORLD

After completing his contacts in Astana, President Erdoğan will move to Turkestan, the spiritual capital of the Turkish world, and will attend the TDT Unofficial Leaders Summit there.

Erdoğan, who is expected to give important messages regarding regional and global issues, especially current developments in the Middle East, in his speech within the scope of the summit, will also hold bilateral meetings with participating heads of state and government.

According to the statement made by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister Bayraktar met with Prevot and his accompanying delegation at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Türkiye’s Ambassador to Brussels Görkem Barış Tantekin and Belgium’s Ambassador to Ankara Hendrik Van de Velde also took part in the meeting.

Minister Bayraktar, in his post on the subject on his NSosyal account, stated that during the meeting, they made evaluations on Europe’s energy supply security, new needs arising from global disruptions in the energy transformation process, and cooperation topics that can be developed between Turkey and Belgium.

Noting that they then welcomed representatives of Belgium’s leading companies to the Ministry and shared Türkiye’s energy vision with them, Bayraktar made the following evaluations: “We stated that we have shaped our energy basket with a multi-dimensional understanding that is present in every field from renewable resources to natural gas, from nuclear energy to domestic hydrocarbon production.

A welcome ceremony was held by the citizens for Mayor Burcu Köksal, who joined the AK Party. Mayor Köksal addressed the citizens at the ceremony attended by AK Party organization members and members of parliament.

Burcu Köksal stated the following in her speech:

“WE HAVE STEPPED INTO A NEW ERA”

“As a child of yours who was born on the streets of this city, breathed the air of this city and suffered from the troubles of this country, I would like to express specifically that my only love today, as it was yesterday, is Afyon. In order to provide a stronger service to our Afyonkarahisar, we have stepped into a new era to conclude the issues awaiting solution faster, to realize the investments that our city needs and to respond more strongly to the demands of our fellow citizens.

“I WILL SERVE WITH YOU”

“Hopefully, from now on, we will implement many works, from infrastructure to transportation, especially urban transformation, to projects for our youth and women, with the same determination. We will support every step that grows, develops and strengthens our city. As I said yesterday, I will continue to serve my hometown in the Justice and Development Party to rebuild our Afyonkarahisar under the leadership of our President. I will serve with you in the Justice and Development Party to bring our city to the best place.”

Mayor Köksal then hosted his party’s deputies and the provincial chairman in his office.

HE GIVEN HIS FIRST MESSAGE YESTERDAY

Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal, who was expelled from the Republican People’s Party, joined the AK Party. Burcu Köksal, who wore the badge of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Extended Provincial Presidents Meeting of her party at the AK Party Congress Center, shared her first message from the podium.

Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal in the AK Party: “I will walk on the same path as those who believe in the sanctity of the family!” | Video

“I WILL WALK ON THE SAME PATH WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE HOLINESS OF FAMILY”

Burcu Köksal used the following statements: Dear President, my esteemed deputy chairmen, my dear AK Party friends, under the leadership of our esteemed President, I will serve my hometown in the ranks of the Justice and Development Party in Afyonkarahisar, in order to realize many projects that we promised to our citizens, especially urban transformation, and to build our city. I will walk on the same path with those who believe in the sanctity of the family and those who respect the values ​​of society. I wish good luck to our Afyonkarahisar, our nation, our country and all our citizens.

ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TO BURCU KÖKSAL

During the program attended by thousands of citizens, a dense crowd formed in the square and slogans of support for Mayor Köksal were chanted. AK Party Afyonkarahisar Deputies İbrahim Yurdunuseven, Ali Özkaya, Hasan Arslan and AK Party Afyonkarahisar Provincial Chairman Turgay Şahin also attended the program held in front of the town hall.