10.10.2026 23:51
An objection came from Presidential Chief Advisor Oktay Saral to Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu's announcement that a bill to introduce a requirement for a T.C. identity number in cigarette sales would be submitted to Parliament within a few weeks. Stating that the regulation could create privacy concerns among citizens, Saral said that President Erdoğan should not be forced to bear the burden of decisions that would draw the public's reaction.
An objection to the cigarette regulation came from Presidential Chief Advisor Oktay Saral. Saral, who opposed the ID number requirement announced by Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, called for the decision to be reconsidered.
MINISTER MEMİŞOĞLU ANNOUNCED THE NEW REGULATION
Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu had announced that they were preparing a new legal regulation regarding cigarette sales. Stating that the regulation requiring citizens who want to buy cigarettes to provide a T.R. ID number would be submitted to Parliament, Minister Memişoğlu had used the following statements: "There will be a TR ID number requirement in cigarette sales. We will submit the relevant bill to Parliament within a few weeks."
OKTAY SARAL OBJECTS TO THE CIGARETTE REGULATION
Presidential Chief Advisor Oktay Saral opposed the regulation announced by Minister of Health Memişoğlu. Stating that the harms of smoking are known by everyone, Saral argued that this would not justify asking citizens for an ID number. Saral used the following statements in his statement: "We all know that smoking is harmful. However, asking a citizen for a T.R. ID number to buy a pack of cigarettes should not be seen as an acceptable practice."
"DECISIONS THAT WILL RAISE PRIVACY CONCERNS"
Furthermore, Oktay Saral stated that the regulation should be reconsidered in terms of personal privacy. Saral, who asked that decisions that could create question marks in citizens' minds be carefully evaluated before being taken, said the following: "Decisions that will create question marks in citizens' minds and raise privacy concerns should be reconsidered once more before being taken."
HIS REMARKS ABOUT PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN DREW ATTENTION
The Presidential Chief Advisor's statement also included remarks regarding President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Saral stated that decisions that could draw a reaction from citizens should not impose an additional burden on President Erdoğan. "While our esteemed President is struggling with our country's issues on the one hand, he should not be forced to carry the burden of decisions that will draw the public's reaction on the other. Supporting our President is possible not by increasing his burden, but by taking the right steps that will win the hearts of the nation. In this regard, it is necessary to hear the voice of our nation and act with common sense."