15.12.2025 17:30
Following the harassment allegations against students interning at the restaurant in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), action has been taken. Çiğdem Erdoğan, the Chair of the TBMM Gender Equality Commission, announced that they have established a monitoring group within the commission regarding the incident.
The Chair of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Gender Equality Commission (KEFEK), Çiğdem Erdoğan, stated that a monitoring group has been established within the commission to closely and effectively follow the harassment allegations in the TBMM.
STATEMENT REGARDING HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS IN TBMM
Çiğdem Erdoğan, the Chair of the TBMM Gender Equality Commission and AK Party Sakarya Deputy, held a press conference in the TBMM. Erdoğan made statements regarding the harassment allegations in the TBMM. Erdoğan said: "From the very first moment we became aware of the allegations reflected in the public regarding the harassment incidents claimed to have occurred in the Parliament, we, as the Gender Equality Commission, showed the necessary sensitivity without delay. As the commission chair, we addressed this issue promptly without leaving any room for doubt."
A MONITORING GROUP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMISSION
In order to address all aspects of the process, we held an urgent information meeting with the participation of all relevant authorities, primarily the TBMM General Secretariat. We invited all members of the political party groups represented in our commission to this meeting without exception. Following the meeting, we established a KEFEK Monitoring Group that will focus solely on this issue to closely and effectively follow the aforementioned allegations.
The KEFEK Monitoring Group consists of 7 members and encompasses all political parties represented in the TBMM. The KEFEK Monitoring Group has immediately started its work and held its first meeting on December 14, 2025, with the participation of the TBMM General Secretary and the heads of relevant units."
"WE WILL FOLLOW THE ALLEGATIONS TO THE END"
Noting that the family has directly applied to the TBMM General Secretariat and that the investigation process has been initiated immediately, Erdoğan continued her remarks as follows: "As the Gender Equality Commission, I want to express clearly that we will follow these allegations to the end. We will take all necessary initiatives to ensure that those identified as perpetrators in connection with the incident are punished in the most severe manner within the framework of the law and in a way that satisfies public conscience. Similarly, we will fully fulfill our responsibility regarding the protection and support of the victims' rights.
In this regard, this issue cannot be made the subject of political discussions, polemics, or different calculations in any way. What is essential here is the honor, rights, safety, and access to justice of the girls and their families. Protecting these is a fundamental and indispensable responsibility for all of us, especially for us. Likewise, we want everyone who has any information or documents related to this issue that have not reached our commission, the Parliament, or the Parliament administration to know that such information should not be conveyed to the public as gossip or rumor, but should be communicated directly to the administration or us. Our commission is ready to evaluate any concrete information and documents that will be reached with great care and within the framework of the law. We reiterate our clear and firm stance to the public; there is no place for harassment, impunity, and silence in the TBMM."