A parliamentary commission established to examine the causes behind children being drawn into crime will continue its work for an additional month, Ankara announced on Friday.

The decision to extend the mandate of the commission was approved during a parliamentary session on March 4 and published in the Official Gazette, allowing the body to continue its research from March 10 for another month.

The commission was formed to investigate the root causes that lead children into criminal activity and to propose preventive and protective policies aimed at improving their participation in social life.

Steps against juvenile crime

On the other hand, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the government is preparing additional legal measures to protect children from criminal environments and strengthen penalties for those who exploit minors in illegal activities, according to the ministry statement published on Friday.

Gürlek noted that authorities aim to prevent children from being drawn into crime while also ensuring rehabilitation for those who have already committed offenses, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to reintegrate them into society.

“We must keep children away from environments that lead them to commit crimes,” Gürlek said. “If they do commit an offense, we must rehabilitate them and ensure they can return to society.”

He also remarked that the government introduced several provisions in the 11th Judicial Reform Package targeting criminal groups that use minors in illegal activities. The reforms increased penalties for organized crime leaders and members who involve children in crimes.

He added that the government is considering further increases to those penalties under the upcoming 12th Judicial Reform Package, which is currently being prepared.

“In cases where organized crime groups, their leaders or members use children in criminal activities, we have already raised the penalties,” Gürlek said. “We are now considering increasing those penalties again in the 12th Judicial Reform Package.”

The minister emphasized that protecting children and safeguarding their future is a fundamental responsibility of the state.

“Children are entrusted to us,” Gürlek said. “We have a duty to protect their future.”

He also stressed that the role of the state extends beyond preventing crime, noting that authorities must also help create social opportunities that allow young people to build stable futures.

“The state not only prevents crime,” Gürlek said. “It must also offer individuals a social future.”

According to Gürlek, the planned measures aim both to deter criminal groups from exploiting minors and to ensure that children who become involved in crime receive support and rehabilitation so they can return to society as productive individuals.

The proposed changes are expected to be included in the next judicial reform package that the government plans to present to Parliament.

Gürlek previously announced that the Justice Ministry has launched a joint platform with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of National Education to study the issue.

The platform will examine social, educational and family-related factors that may lead children toward criminal activity or violent behavior, he said.

“We aim to conduct a comprehensive study on the circumstances that lead children toward violence, starting from family structures and education,” Gürlek stressed. “We are also considering measures to ensure that children who are driven into crime serve the full duration of their sentences.”

He added that the government intends to introduce policies that respond to public concerns over crimes involving minors and perceptions that offenders are not sufficiently punished.

“We will take steps to address crimes involving children and to break the perception of impunity in society,” Gürlek said. “Our goal is to produce regulations that deliver concrete improvements in practice.”

The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat violence against women, noting that recent legislation had established stronger legal tools to address such crimes. Gürlek said additional provisions related to the protection of victims could be included in the upcoming judicial reform package.

“We closely monitor the problems experienced by women who are victims of violence,” he said. “We plan to introduce further regulations on this issue in the 12th Judicial Reform Package and present them to Parliament.”

A series of fatal stabbing incidents involving teenagers has intensified public debate in Türkiye over youth violence and the factors driving minors toward crime. One of the most widely reported cases occurred on Jan. 24, 2025, when 14-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi was stabbed by a 15-year-old attacker at a street market in Istanbul. Minguzzi died on Feb. 9 after spending 16 days in intensive care.

Just two months later, another fatal stabbing shocked the public in the northern province of Tokat, where 17-year-old national athlete Berkay Melikoğlu was killed.

In one of the most recent incidents, 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan died after being stabbed during an argument in Istanbul on Jan. 14, with initial findings indicating that the suspect is a 15-year-old.

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Foreign ministers from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will gather in Istanbul on March 7 for an informal meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation among member countries and addressing pressing regional and global issues, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

The meeting will be hosted by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and attended by representatives from Azerbaijan, the current chair of the organization, as well as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Officials are expected to review recent developments within the OTS and discuss priorities and steps for the coming period.

Comprehensive consultations are also planned on current global and regional challenges. On the sidelines of the meeting, Fidan is expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts. Delegation heads are also scheduled to be received collectively by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

In his address, Fidan is expected to stress the importance of expanding cooperation among Turkic states at a time when the region and the international system face growing difficulties in producing peace, stability and justice. He is also expected to highlight the need for a unified stance within the Turkic world calling for an end to ongoing conflicts involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and attacks targeting third countries, urging renewed space for diplomacy.

The Turkish minister is further expected to underline the importance of preventing further escalation of tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan through dialogue and peaceful solutions. He will also call for an end to what Ankara describes as the unjust isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), encouraging OTS members to deepen political, economic and cultural ties with the community.

Fidan is also expected to outline Türkiye’s priorities regarding the planned “OTS+” format aimed at expanding cooperation with third parties within the organization.

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Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Türkiye wants to see the “terror-free Türkiye” process for the disarmament of the PKK terrorist group reach its conclusion, emphasizing that Parliament will ultimately determine legal arrangements as political consultations continue.

Speaking during an iftar gathering with Ankara bureau chiefs at the Ankara Judges’ House, Gürlek said discussions about potential legislation are ongoing and that public expectations for progress have grown.

“We want the terror-free Türkiye process to reach its conclusion,” Gürlek said. “There is now an expectation in society. Our people are ready.”

Türkiye’s efforts to end PKK violence that killed over 50,000 people and remove the division the terrorist group has fostered for over four decades have entered the second stage.

After the group announced it would dissolve itself last year, a parliamentary committee recently approved a report for legislation to speed up the process. The report, which will serve as a guide for Parliament to draft legislation, will help facilitate the process after authorities confirmed that the PKK fully abandoned arms.

Gürlek said the head and members of the parliamentary Justice Commission, as well as the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) delegation, also expressed support for swift legal steps following negotiations in Parliament.

A negotiation text prepared in Parliament has already been submitted to the Justice Commission, he said, adding that the commission will decide the next steps.

The Justice Ministry, Gürlek noted, is not directly involved in drafting the legislation but stands ready to provide technical support if requested. Judges and prosecutors within the ministry can assist lawmakers during the legislative process.

The National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Committee, set up exclusively for the PKK’s disarmament, has heard from all segments of society since last August and wrapped up the work with a report offering advice on the fate of PKK members. The report involves suggestions for the rehabilitation of terrorists after the complete dissolution of the PKK. The Justice Ministry will set up a working group on legislation, while the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will invite other political parties to set up an informal working group in Parliament to debate future legislation.

Gürlek emphasized that Türkiye cannot adopt arrangements resembling a “personalized general amnesty” for PKK members, suggesting that any legal changes would likely come through temporary provisions within existing laws.

Possible amendments could involve legislation such as the Penal Execution Law, the Turkish Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, he said, though the scope and framework would be determined by Parliament. Legal amendments would be categorized in three groups: those involved in acts of terrorism, those who were not involved and those already incarcerated in PKK-related crimes.

Members of the PKK who were not involved in any acts of terrorism will be subject to legal proceedings once they return to Türkiye and judicial monitoring. The PKK announced last year that all of its members in Türkiye had left the country as part of the initiative. The PKK’s senior leadership and most members hide out in mountainous territories in northern Iraq, particularly in and around the Qandil mountain area.

The nature of judicial control is not clear, but it will most likely be similar to judicial control for other crimes, in which convicts are required to report to a local police station regularly and/or are banned from traveling abroad. PKK members in this category will also benefit from a string of rehabilitation and reintegration programs, including education, vocational training and psychiatric support.

Gürlek also underscored that the process requires the complete disarmament and dissolution of the PKK terrorist organization before legal steps move forward.

“First, the organization must fully lay down its arms and dissolve itself,” Gürlek said, adding that official confirmation that the group has ended its activities would be necessary.

The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Defense Ministry are tasked with supervising the PKK’s disarmament and full dissolution in the field.

Responding to questions about the “status” of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Gürlek said the government is not overseeing that aspect of the process and that decisions on possible legal status changes rest with Parliament.

He also reiterated that under current Turkish law, there are no conditional release provisions for terrorism-related crimes, including sentences of aggravated life imprisonment, unless Parliament decides otherwise through legislative changes.

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Türkiye’s Embassy in Manama announced Friday it will organize bus services for Turkish citizens wishing to leave Bahrain after the country closed its airspace following Iran’s retaliatory actions against U.S. and Israeli attacks.

In a statement, the embassy said buses will transport Turkish nationals from Bahrain’s capital Manama to Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, allowing them to depart the region via Riyadh’s international airport.

The journey by road is expected to take approximately six to seven hours, the embassy said, adding that citizens planning to travel must obtain a Saudi Arabia visa online prior to departure in accordance with current regulations.

Turkish nationals who wish to cross from Bahrain into Saudi Arabia are required to register through a link shared by the embassy. Detailed information about the bus services will be sent to the email addresses provided during registration.

The embassy also advised citizens to remain prepared for possible disruptions during travel and noted that conditions in the region may change rapidly. Citizens were urged to follow the embassy’s official social media accounts regularly for updates and further announcements regarding the evacuation arrangements.

Tensions have surged in the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran starting Feb. 28, and have since killed almost 1000 people, Iranian top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and at least 165 schoolgirls.

Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks across Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. forces, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.

Over 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones have been launched since the war began, targeting civilian airports, shipping ports, energy facilities and military bases.

Türkiye, meanwhile, has intensified diplomatic contacts with regional and international partners in recent weeks as tensions and security concerns continue in parts of the Middle East and surrounding regions.

The Foreign Ministry led the diplomatic efforts since the first day of the war, discussing the latest developments and possible steps to halt the attacks.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also reiterated that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın had contacts with their counterparts and Türkiye was closely watching the developments.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday condemned what she described as an “unjustifiable missile attack” against NATO ally Türkiye after Turkish authorities intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran.

Meloni expressed solidarity with Türkiye during a phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the two leaders discussed escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Italian prime minister’s office said in a statement.

According to the statement, Meloni conveyed Italy’s support for Türkiye following the incident and reiterated Rome’s concern over developments that risk further destabilizing the region.

The missile, fired from Iran on Wednesday and passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense units deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to the Defense Ministry. No injuries were reported.

Following the missile incident, several organizations and states condemned the attack and voiced solidarity with Türkiye, including NATO, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Spain, the UAE, Albania, Belgium and Pakistan.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, on Thursday denied that Tehran had targeted Türkiye with a missile and said Iran has no reason to attack its neighbor, stressing that relations between the two countries remain strong.

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NATO member Türkiye said Thursday it remains committed to regional stability but reserves the right to respond to hostile actions regardless of their origin, after a ballistic missile launched from Iran toward Turkish territory was intercepted by NATO air defenses.

The missile, fired from Iran on Wednesday and passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense systems deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to Turkish officials.

Fragments that fell in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province after the interception belonged to an air defense missile used in the operation. No casualties were reported.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi following the interception.

According to Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan conveyed Türkiye’s reaction to the incident and stressed the importance of avoiding steps that could escalate tensions or trigger a wider regional conflict.

Iran on Thursday rejected accusations that it launched a ballistic missile toward NATO-member Türkiye.

The Iranian General Staff of the Armed Forces said Türkiye’s accounts of a missile fired toward Turkish territory were false and were “firmly rejected.”

Iran’s armed forces respect the sovereignty of neighboring and friendly country Türkiye, the statement said.

On Wednesday, Türkiye said a NATO defense system intercepted a ballistic missile in its border region. Part of the interceptor missile fell in an open area in the province of Hatay. No injuries were reported.

It remains unclear what the Iranian missile’s intended target may have been.

The New York Times, citing U.S. military officials, reported that the projectile may have been aimed at the key NATO air base in Incirlik.

Türkiye has largely remained neutral in the war with Iran. However, U.S. troops are stationed in the country. The NATO air base is located in Incirlik in the southern Turkish province of Adana.

According to U.S. figures, around 1,500 military personnel are stationed there. The base is considered an important military hub in the region.

Since the war began on Saturday, Iran has repeatedly attacked U.S. interests in the region, including military bases and diplomatic missions.

Deterrence capability

The missile incident came as Turkish leaders emphasized the need to maintain strong defense capabilities amid rising regional tensions.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday that Türkiye must continue strengthening its military deterrence to maintain peace and stability, stressing that the country’s status as an “island of stability” in a volatile region depends on the strength of its armed forces and defense capabilities.

He said authorities are taking comprehensive measures to protect Türkiye’s borders and airspace amid current tensions. Erdoğan added that Türkiye coordinated closely with NATO to address the missile incident and prevent similar events in the future.

The president said Türkiye had maintained its course despite embargoes and external pressures and remains determined to strengthen its capabilities while avoiding developments that could undermine national security.

“We will leave this country to our children as a nation they can be proud of,” Erdoğan said, pledging continued efforts to enhance Türkiye’s defense capacity and national resilience.

PJAK move

The Defense Ministry sources also said Ankara is closely monitoring the escalating tensions caused by the attacks by Israel and the United States, emphasizing that regional problems can only be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. They reiterated that Türkiye is ready to contribute to efforts aimed at a solution.

Türkiye is also closely watching the activities of the PJAK, the Iranian branch of the PKK terrorist group, the sources said, noting that the group’s actions threaten Iran’s security and regional stability.

The statement followed reports of discussions between the PJAK and the U.S. about the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

On Tuesday, sources told Reuters that the PJAK had consulted with the U.S. about whether and how to target Iranian security positions in the western part of the country.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., the U.K. and the EU and has been responsible for more than 40,000 deaths.

In May, the group announced its dissolution and the end of its four-decade terror campaign that cost tens of thousands of lives in Türkiye as well as in Iraq and Syria.

In Syria, the PKK operates through its local offshoot, the YPG, which has been allied with the U.S. for more than a decade under the pretext of fighting Daesh terrorists. Washington’s support for the group has been a source of tension with Ankara, which has repeatedly urged its NATO ally to cut ties with the PKK/YPG.

The YPG agreed to integrate into the new Syrian army following clashes in northern Syria earlier in January.

The ministry sources also said no unusual activity or troop buildup had been observed along the Türkiye-Iran border despite the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance, adding that all necessary precautions have been taken at the highest level.

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