08.05.2026 18:07
Images of Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Göktaş visiting tradespeople in Brussels and listening to their concerns sparked debate. Responding to allegations that she had not visited tradespeople in Turkey, Minister Göktaş said, "I have toured all 81 provinces, meeting with our people and tradespeople. We have approximately 5 million expatriates in Europe. Are we to disregard them? I condemn the language used against them."
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Göktaş's visit to shopkeepers in Belgium became a topic of discussion. Minister Göktaş, who visited shopkeepers one by one in Brussels and listened to their problems, faced criticism for not visiting shopkeepers in Turkey.
"WILL WE IGNORE THEM?"
Responding to these criticisms in an interview with journalist Sinan Burhan, Minister Göktaş said, "I visited all 81 provinces of our country and met with our people and shopkeepers. We have approximately 5 million expatriates in Europe. Will we ignore them? I condemn the language used towards them."
"I SOLD BREAD THERE, WORKED AS A CASHIER"
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Göktaş continued her remarks: "This language is an insult to expatriates. Of course, I visit them and listen to their problems. What could be more natural than embracing our shopkeepers on the streets where I was born and raised, where my family ran businesses? I sold bread there. I worked as a cashier, studied, and served as a member of parliament for two terms."