15.04.2026 22:08
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, in his statement regarding the armed attacks that occurred in schools in Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş, stated that political evaluations made before the incidents are fully clarified could obscure the truth, saying, 'No one should turn such a tragic event into material for day-to-day politics.'
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, in a statement following the consecutive school attacks in Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş, emphasized that the incidents should not be evaluated merely as momentary developments. Drawing attention to the social, psychological, and digital factors behind the attacks, Bahçeli stated that political comments made without revealing all aspects of the process could overshadow the truth and called for prudence and responsibility. Bahçeli said, "Political comments made before the incident is fully clarified will result in nothing but covering up the truth. No one should turn such a tragic event into material for daily politics; they should not attempt to seek exploitation through pain."
"IT IS IMPERATIVE TO REVEAL ALL CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES"
In his written statement, Bahçeli noted that the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Şanlıurfa and today in Kahramanmaraş cannot be dismissed with shallow, superficial, and one-dimensional assessments. Bahçeli included the following statements: "It is an imperative necessity to address these grave developments with all their causes, consequences, and background dynamics through a calm, prudent, and multifaceted perspective for the truth to be fully revealed. The uncontrolled prevalence of digitalization, the unregulated influence of social media platforms, and the increasingly deepening peer bullying unfortunately cause irreparable damage in the spiritual world of our children."
"THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN REAL AND VIRTUAL IS BLURRING"
Emphasizing that children and young people are growing up in an artificial climate, Bahçeli said, "In today's world, our children are growing up in an artificial climate where social media essentially nurtures them; they direct screens with their fingertips, and contradictory emotions are experienced and consumed within seconds. These rapid emotional transitions, swinging from joy to anger, from compassion to violence with a swipe, blur the boundaries between real and virtual in minds still in the developmental stage. A dangerous delusion is forming that lives, which can be easily changed, deleted, and recreated in the virtual realm, can be directed in the same way in the real world. Especially individuals in adolescence, under the influence of this virtual flow, are increasingly tending to simplify reality, underestimate consequences, and act with instant reactions. This situation, when left uncontrolled, prepares a ground that could lead to irreversible consequences."
"THE PROBLEM HAS GAINED GLOBAL DIMENSIONS"
Bahçeli drew attention to the global dimension of the issue, stating, "Indeed, the fact that similar incidents are occurring in different societies clearly shows that the issue has gained a global threat dimension. It must not be forgotten that humans, besides their biological existence, are personalities molded by cultural and national values. When digitalization erodes these values, targets and weakens the social fabric, such tragedies become inevitable. Therefore, reading the issue only through the perpetrator will lead to an incomplete understanding of the truth. What should actually be questioned are the social environment, digitalization, value erosion, and uncontrolled spheres of influence pushing our children towards such dark actions. In such grave and sensitive incidents, it is of vital importance that the competent authorities carry out their duties without any pressure or direction, with calmness and state seriousness."
"COMMENTS SHOULD NOT BE MADE BEFORE THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED"
Pointing out that caution should be exercised regarding political comments on the incidents, Bahçeli used the following expressions: "Political comments made before the incident is fully clarified will result in nothing but covering up the truth. If deemed necessary, assessments should only be made after the process is completed. No one should turn such a tragic event into material for daily politics; they should not attempt to seek exploitation through pain."
CONDOLENCE AND SYMPATHY MESSAGE
Bahçeli expressed condolences for the student and teacher who lost their lives in the attack in Kahramanmaraş, wishing mercy from Allah for the deceased, and condolences to their families and the nation, while also wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, saying, "I pray to Almighty Allah for mercy for our children and our devoted teacher brother who lost their lives in this vile attack in Kahramanmaraş; and offer condolences to their grieving families and our noble nation. I also wish a speedy recovery to our children injured in both heinous attacks."