“WE ARE ALL INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE WHOLE, MEN AND WOMEN”

Noting that women have made unique contributions to Türkiye reaching today’s proud levels by working hard in hard work, talent and production despite all the difficulties and obstacles they face, Erdogan said, “I would also like to thank each of you, including all the women in my country, for your contributions to Türkiye’s growth and development, strengthening our democracy and raising the bar of prosperity.” he said.

President Erdoğan continued his words as follows:

“I would like to underline again on this meaningful day a truth that I have often reminded of on different occasions. We are the representatives of a civilization that rejects all forms of discrimination against women and sees men and women as one and the same. We have a high vision that looks at every being and every living creature as a sign of God. In our world of faith and spirit, if superiority is to be sought for humans, it is only through piety, merit, labor and productivity. Racial discrimination, sectarian discrimination, origin Just as discrimination is not written in our book, gender discrimination is not included in our book. Otherizing human beings, who are noble creatures, or despising them just because of their gender or ethnic identity, has no place in our book. Respecting people’s personal preferences, lifestyles, and inherent characteristics, as long as it does not limit the freedom of others, and seeing differences as wealth is a requirement of not only being virtuous, but also of being human. Similarly, it is our humanity to stand against the exploitation of women’s labor and commodification of women by the global consumption wheel. It is necessary.”

Noting that human rights and freedoms are the guarantee of not only a certain group of people, the elites who hold power, but all human beings, Erdoğan said, “Women are not behind men in terms of rights and responsibilities, on the contrary, they are next to men, shoulder to shoulder. We are all inseparable parts of a whole, whether men or women. Regardless of men and women, we are all the roses of the same bond, the strings of the same reed.” he said.

Erdoğan said, “Whoever discriminates in the name and under any pretext means betraying the values ​​that form the essential identity of this nation. Whoever commits violence against women and children, or even worse, oppresses them, means that they have no share in humanity. Those who confine men and women to sexist brackets are actually hiding the fact that they are both human beings first.” he said.

Stating that they have been making efforts for women to participate actively and equally in social and political life since the day they entered the political scene with this understanding, Erdoğan said that they have made great efforts to break entrenched prejudices and eliminate wrong practices.

President Erdoğan said that both the guests in the hall and the citizens watching them in front of their dignitaries know very well what they are doing to strengthen the status of women and remove the obstacles in front of women.

Sharing some of the regulations and figures they made in this context, Erdoğan said, “When we took office, we increased the female labor force participation rate, which was 27.9 percent, to 34.7 percent. In the same period, the female employment rate increased from 25.3 percent to 31.7 percent. Another success of ours is in political representation. In 2002, only 24 female deputies served in our parliament. In the last elections, this number increased to 119. The representation rate of women in the Parliament increased 5 times.” It reached 19.83 percent.” he said.

Erdoğan stated that they saw the same success in the rate of female public employees and said:

“We have wide opened all the doors that the tutelage mentality of February 28 closed to women in the public sector. By ending the headscarf ban, we have enabled women to work in all layers of the bureaucracy without facing any obstacles or pressure. We have broken down all the walls built in front of women, especially in professions that are excluded from the access of women, such as academia, civil service, courthouse and military. Today, not only our sisters and brothers who cannot be persuaded in persuasion rooms, but also their children work in every institution, are present in the public sphere, work “And they stand out with their success in the world of politics. Women are no longer forced to choose between living in accordance with their beliefs and pursuing the profession of their dreams. As a result, the rate of female public employees has increased from 34.2 percent to 43.38 percent in the last 12 years alone.”

STUDIES AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

President Erdoğan pointed out that another bleeding wound is violence against women and children and continued as follows:

“We have always acted with a ‘zero tolerance’ approach on this issue. With the amendment we made to the Turkish Penal Code in 2005, we opened an important threshold in preventing violence against women. In 2012, we enacted the Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women. We obliged municipalities with a population of more than 100 thousand to open guest houses. With the regulation we made in our Penal Code in 2014, we made it possible to address sexual crimes. We increased the penalties. We established specialized courts within the scope of Law No. 6284 in 2021 and 2022. We confirmed and registered our sensitivity on this issue with the Presidential circular we published in 2023. We increased the number of our Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers to 86. “We have made our protective and preventive services accessible with the Social Service Center Anti-Violence Contact Points, which we have increased to 434. We support women in their smallest problems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with our women’s support application, KADES, via the Alo 183 line.”

Stating that they have implemented many administrative and legal regulations, reforms, measures and sanctions that cannot be listed here, Erdoğan emphasized that their stance on violence against women and children is clear, and that violence against women, regardless of the name, is a betrayal of humanity.

Pointing out that Türkiye has made significant progress in combating violence, Erdoğan said, “We are in a better place than the vast majority of countries that are cited as examples by those who criticize our government with the slogan ‘The contract keeps life’, which has no basis. For this reason, we say ‘The law, not the contract, keeps life alive.’ and we develop the legislation according to needs. Wherever there are disruptions and disruptions, we eliminate them and do whatever is necessary to eradicate violence against women and children without hesitation. “We will continue this struggle with determination until not a single woman or child is a victim of violence.” he said.

Director of Communications Burhanettin Duran, in his statement on his virtual media account, said, “Following the latest developments in our region, it has been determined that an intense disinformation and psychological operation activity has been carried out in digital media targeting Türkiye. Especially from the first moment of the attacks against Iran, it has been seen that some social media accounts have been making systematic posts aiming to create fear, panic and insecurity in the society through unverified content. The relevant institutions of our state have followed this process closely from the first moment; targeting public order, social peace and our national security.” Necessary steps have been taken decisively against digital manipulation attempts.

In this context, under the coordination of the Presidential Communications Directorate; As a result of the work carried out with the Department of Combating Cyber ​​Crimes of the General Directorate of Security, the Information Technologies and Communication Authority and our Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, access to 41 social media accounts (X, Facebook and Instagram) targeting the domestic front with disinformation and provocative contents were blocked. 75 pieces of content were removed from digital platforms. Legal proceedings have been initiated against these and other accounts under investigation, which were found to be carrying out psychological operations through criminal posts. The State of the Republic of Türkiye sees the digital space as an integral part of national security; It fights with determination and within the framework of the law against attempts to manipulate public opinion. As our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan frequently emphasizes, Türkiye has the will and capacity to protect its national security both on the field and in the digital field. All institutions of our state act with this understanding; “It takes the necessary measures against all kinds of initiatives targeting the peace, information security and social solidarity of our nation,” he said.

According to the statement made by the Provincial Presidency, a “Ramadan’26 in Istanbul” program was organized in front of the Presidency due to the month of Ramadan.

In the program hosted by AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services Dr. Sevim Sayım Madak, AK Party Headquarters Women’s Branch President and Istanbul Deputy Tuğba Işık Ercan, AK Party Istanbul Deputy Derya Ayaydın and Rabia İlhan, members of the organization and citizens came together.

After the iftar, the participants chatted by the fire and shared the blessings of Ramadan. The ministers made a speech and then answered the questions of the citizens.

In his speech here, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu talked about the local and national high-speed train tests carried out in Sakarya.

Stating that she came here specifically to participate in the program in Istanbul, Uraloğlu stated that the women’s organizations of the AK Party play an important role in politics and social life.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Yumaklı emphasized the importance of unity and solidarity for a strong Türkiye and noted that they will continue to work day and night for Türkiye’s development in all areas.

Minister of Family and Social Services Göktaş pointed out that the work of neighborhood organizations in the field is of great importance and emphasized that the responsibility assumed by women in politics and social life is one of the strongest aspects of AK Party organizations.

AK Party Headquarters Women’s Branch President Ercan stated that the month of Ramadan is a period that reinforces unity and brotherhood, and that members of the organization continue their work, neighborhood by neighborhood, door to door.

AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özdemir stated that the month of Ramadan strengthens the spirit of unity and solidarity and that this month is enthusiastically understood by organizations and municipalities throughout Istanbul.

Özdemir talked about the importance of women’s branches in organizational work and said that one of the AK Party’s biggest sources of power is women’s organizations.

Academicians and opinion leaders from the Balkans Prof. Dr. The surprise guest of the program, where Süleyman Baki and Hüsrev Emin also gave speeches, was Galatasaray national football player Ahmed Kutucu.

Kutucu stated that it was an honor for him to participate here and said, “We have mothers here. Pray a lot for our country, for our state, for our President.” he said.

During the program, souvenir photographs were taken and conversations were held with the participants.

AK Party Ankara Provincial Chairman Hakan Han Özcan met with organizations in different districts of Ankara and visited citizens during the month of Ramadan.

Özcan, who carried out an intense program in the field on the occasion of Ramadan, recently met with members of the organization at the iftar program held in Bala. After the program, he visited the İslim family in Gölbaşı, conveyed President Erdoğan’s greetings and wished that the month of Ramadan would be beneficial.

Özcan also visited the Gölbaşı District Organization later in the night and met with members of the organization.

“WE ARE AMONG THE PEOPLE, WE ARE EXACTLY WHERE WE SHOULD BE”

Speaking in his hometown Gölbaşı, AK Party Ankara Provincial Chairman Hakan Han Özcan emphasized unity and solidarity. Ozcan,

“We leave not only our footprints but also our unshakable bond of love on every street of Ankara. We aspire not to knock on doors, but to enter hearts. We fit our politics not into the walls of cold buildings, but into a bowl of hot soup, a sincere prayer, and a troubled word. Our politics does not hang on signs; we say our words not from podiums, but in front of doors where we sit knee to knee, in the very hearts of our people. We are among the people, we are exactly where we need to be!

“CHP IS A STRUCTURE WHICH IS NOT REMEMBERED BY SERVICE, BUT BY SLAVERY, CORRUPTION AND LACK OF VISION”

On the other hand, you see the CHP mentality; who cannot go beyond being a tool of some global groups, not with service; A structure that is remembered with blasphemy, corruption and lack of vision… A visionless municipality approach prevails, which cannot even maintain the works that we put into practice with great efforts in our time. Today, we work shoulder to shoulder with our organizations to eliminate the service deficiency we see in Gölbaşı and all over Ankara. With the support of our state and the consultation of our ministries, we strive day and night to ensure that our citizens are not deprived of any service. Hopefully, in the first election, we will once again embrace our capital and all districts with ‘works and service municipalism’.

Provincial Chairman Gürhan Albayrak emphasized that women have an important place in all areas of life in his message on the occasion of March 8 International Women’s Day. In the video, Kara Fatma, the hero of the War of Independence, Sabiha Gökçen, the first female fighter pilot, Refet Angın, the first female teacher, and Safiye Ali, the first female doctor, were commemorated, while women who worked hard in the fields, at school and in all areas of life were thanked.

Sharing a short message parallel to the content of the video, Albayrak used the following statements in his statement:

“To those who ask what a woman can do on her own, our women who change the world with their determination, labor and struggle give the best answer. That spirit, which is Kara Fatma on the front and Sabiha Gökçen in the skies, lives in Eskişehir and in every aspect of life in our country today. Every place touched by a woman’s hand becomes beautiful, every work becomes valuable. I wholeheartedly congratulate all our women, especially the mothers of our martyrs and veterans, on March 8, International Women’s Day.”

Every place touched by a woman’s hand becomes beautiful, every work becomes valuable. 💐 We are grateful to all our women who shape our history and brighten our future with their efforts. Happy March 8 International Women’s Day. ✨ pic.twitter.com/HngsH3Ie6E

— Gürhan Albayrak (@GurhanAlbayrak) March 7, 2026

The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) continued its work throughout the month of Ramadan and organized iftar, panel and brotherhood meetings in many cities of Europe, especially the Balkans. YTB ​​officials came together with Turks within the scope of the programs and experienced the spirit of unity and solidarity of Ramadan with the diaspora. YTB ​​executives also met with Bayırbucak Turkmens in Syria at an iftar program the other day.

SOCIAL CULTURAL ISSUES WERE DISCUSSED

Turks, representatives of non-governmental organizations, academics and young people came together at the same table in iftar programs held in many European cities since the beginning of Ramadan. While the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan was shared in the programs, social and cultural issues faced by Turks living abroad were also discussed.

TIES WITH THE TURKISH DIASPORA ARE GETTING STRONGER

In the first 15 days of Ramadan, YTB organized a series of iftar, meeting and sahur programs in Europe and the Middle East, starting from the Balkans. The event was held in a total of 7 cities in Macedonia, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Syria. While Türkiye’s support to its citizens abroad and diaspora policies were discussed in the programs, the problems of citizens living abroad were also brought to the agenda. It was stated that the main purpose of the programs is to strengthen the ties of Turkish citizens living abroad with Türkiye. While different segments of the Turkish society come together through the programs, it is also aimed to strengthen the cultural ties between the new generation of expats and Türkiye.

FROM EUROPE TO THE BALKANS AND THE MIDDLE EAST

It is planned to continue meetings with Turkish citizens and cognate communities in a wide area from Europe to the Balkans, from the Middle East to different geographies, with iftar and sahur programs. Thus, it is aimed to keep the spirit of unity, solidarity and solidarity of Ramadan alive among Turks living all over the world.

Iftar with SYRIAN TURKMENS

Following the iftar and sahur events organized by YTB in the Balkans and Europe, an iftar program was organized for 500 people in Burç İslam town in the Bayırbucak region of Syria, with the participation of Turkmens, families of martyrs, Turkish graduates, people in need and local people.