11.11.2026 23:12
At the Turkish Grand National Assembly Plan and Budget Committee, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş claimed that men were sterilized through SGK in the 1990s. These remarks drew a reaction from the opposition. Following the reactions, Göktaş reiterated her claim, saying 'The surgeries were performed.'
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş’s claim that men were sterilized through SGK in the 1990s caused a debate in the TGNA Plan and Budget Committee. Göktaş, reiterating her claim that opposition MPs reacted, said, “Surgeries were performed.”
MINISTER GÖKTAŞ AT THE TGNA PLAN AND BUDGET COMMITTEE
In the TGNA Plan and Budget Committee convened under the chairmanship of AK Party Samsun MP Mehmet Muş, the discussions on the 2027 budget of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the 2025 final account, and the Court of Accounts reports were completed. Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş answered questions after the MPs’ evaluations.
“FOR BOTH FUNDS, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF RESOURCES BEING DIRECTED TO PRIVATE FUNDS”
Also responding to CHP Karabük MP Cevdet Akay’s questions regarding the management of the resources of the Social Assistance and Solidarity Incentive Fund and the Family and Youth Fund, Minister Özdemir Göktaş said that unused resources in the social assistance fund are transferred to the Central Bank account every evening, while the resource management of the Family and Youth Fund is under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. The Family Minister said, “In summary, for both funds, there is no question of resources being directed to private funds.”
“SURGERIES WERE PERFORMED IN THE 1990s”
Also touching on population policies in her speech, Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş argued that Turkey is rapidly aging and that the decline in fertility rates has become an important problem.
During the discussions, Göktaş’s remarks about sterilization practices in the 1990s also caused a debate in the committee. Özdemir Göktaş said, “Look, men were sterilized through SGK in this country. Is that normal? In the 90s. I can show you from the headlines. This is a fact. Look, it is a situation we should be ashamed of. Shameful... I am talking about the 1990s. Let me tell you from newspaper headlines. I can explain to you here in detail the policies carried out through newspaper headlines. These were not systematic; they were done with SGK support.”
Opposition MPs reacted to Göktaş’s statement that “systematic sterilization was carried out” and asked, “So what, was there a systematic sterilization operation in this country?” Upon the reactions, Minister Özdemir Göktaş responded, “Look, I said it was done. Such a policy was implemented. Is it shameful to say this? What is wrong with it? I can explain all of these to you in full detail. Now, do you know why saying it was not done? I am talking about the 90s. Surgeries were performed.”
As the verbal argument continued, Committee Chairman Mehmet Muş reacted to the MPs and said, “Dear MPs, do these MPs also have academics, I wonder? Please let them research the issue. Let us end it here then. Anyway, no one needs to listen. No one wants to listen to anything.”