23.05.2025 16:01
In statements made at the International Family Forum, President Erdoğan said, "Turkey's fertility rate has declined to 1.48 for the first time in our history. This is a disaster. This figure is well below the critical threshold of 2.1."
President Erdoğan attended the International Family Forum. Highlighting the decline in the birth rate in Turkey, Erdoğan stated, "We declare 2026-2035 as the decade of family and population."
Expressing that hosting such an important meeting in Istanbul is a source of pride for Turkey, President Erdoğan noted the following in his speech:
"The family is not only our most sacred asset but also the fundamental building block of society. The family is so important, valuable, and sacred that no other institution, relationship, or bond can replace it. The institution of family has existed since our first human father, Hazrat Adam, and our first mother, Hazrat Havva, and it has always been there. For thousands of years, people have opened their eyes to the world in a family environment, learned about life there, and maintained their lives in this way. The institution of family, consisting of a woman and a man, has an indispensable role in the continuation of the human race.
Therefore, the family is a cement that keeps society both standing and together in peace, security, solidarity, and brotherhood. The family is our safest harbor where we find peace, security, and ourselves. The family is a nurturing home where children, who are the guarantee of our future, are born, grow up, and receive their first education, as much as it keeps individuals together. Along with all this, the family is a structure that protects women, raises children, socializes individuals, and sustains life.
"ANY SOCIETY WHERE THE FAMILY COLLAPSES IS DOOMED TO DECAY FROM ITS ROOTS"
Look, history has shown us this truth many times: It is impossible for an understanding that builds modernity on the concepts of family disintegration and isolation to provide peace to either the individual or society. Every society where the family has collapsed, disintegrated, or deteriorated is doomed to decay, corruption, collapse, and ultimately to perish. Resisting all kinds of threats and attacks against the family, elevating and fortifying the institution of family is especially our primary duty.
For this reason, we say that defending the family is defending humanity. Protecting the family is sustaining society. Growing the family is building the future.
A great transformation fueled by technology is taking place in the world. The globalization and modernization accelerated by this wave of change are also transforming the institution of family, which is the foundation of society. With the digitalization of every aspect of our lives, many traditional institutions, especially the concept of family, are losing their meaning. While human values weaken, a self-centered mentality unfortunately takes the place of a society-centered understanding. We know that the modern age has caused serious damage to the family institution, just like many values of humanity. We see that the spiritual values that have kept us standing for centuries are being undermined and trivialized in the name of individual freedoms and modernization. A lifestyle that prioritizes personal comfort is rapidly infiltrating the veins of society, starting with the youth.
"GLOBAL IMPERIALISM ESPECIALLY TARGETS THE FAMILY"
Beyond the changes occurring in its own channel, we observe that global imperialism has particularly targeted the family. We need to openly state today: Cultural imperialism is trying to hack the institution of family with all its tools, equipment, and apparatus. Behind this is the fact that a family that shares, divides, confides, rejoices, and unites poses a threat to the existential dynamics of cultural imperialism. In other words, a cooperative family structure that shares everything it eats, wears, earns, and essentially all consumable goods with other family members is certainly not a situation preferred, approved, or desired by global market actors. The biggest reason for the discrediting of the family institution, coinciding with the promotion of a consumption culture, is precisely this.
Whether some people want to accept it or not, an individual who has been severed from their family and whose national bond has weakened cannot be free and unique. Wherever they are in the world, as the family institution loses altitude, people become objects of consumption in popular culture. What is presented as freedom is actually a great system of captivity and slavery. The most striking example of this is undoubtedly the gender-neutralization project.
Today, humanity is being tested with the most fundamental truths of its existence. Human nature is under organized siege on a global scale. This ideological siege, which is called freedom but is essentially a denial of human creation, threatens not only the family but also women, children, and human dignity. We are closely following how severe the situation has become in countries that have opened the door to the perversion known as LGBT for various reasons. This perversion, legitimized under the guise of respect for preferences, has today turned into a tyranny that tolerates no different voices or opinions, a fascism in the truest sense of the word.
Behind these impositions are not only some civil initiatives but also multinational companies, certain international organizations, and prominent states. Artists, businessmen, politicians, and scientists are being lynched and turned into living corpses simply for criticizing the LGBT scourge. Another painful reality is this: Those who deny human nature with gender-neutralization projects are actually exploiting innocent children by performing irreversible medical interventions on their bodies. We cannot watch this insistence, this exploitation. It is certainly not a coincidence that these dirty and vile hands reaching out to our children as young as 4-5 years old are trying to legitimize distorted relationships that embarrass humanity. These are enemies of humanity, enemies of women, enemies of children. The struggle against LGBT perversion is also a struggle for freedom, dignity, and saving the future of humanity.
I view the increasing awareness in the world on this issue very positively. We are particularly pleased with legal and constitutional regulations in different countries that define the family as a legitimate union between a man and a woman. We are well aware of the attacks faced by leaders who take steps in this direction. But we believe that a firm stance must be maintained on such a vital issue concerning the survival of humanity, no matter the cost. As Turkey, I express here that we will not say yes to any ideology that declares war on the family or any tyranny that denies human nature. I also want it to be known: Although it is supported by opposition parties and some women's organizations within our country, we will resolutely continue our struggle against gender-neutralization projects that openly threaten our national integrity. We will not allow the normalization of anomaly under the guise of freedom and personal choice. We will hopefully continue to take responsibility and play a leading role in the international arena on this issue.
Today, the known forces promoting gender-neutralization have previously advocated population control and family planning policies for many years.
Since the 1960s, similar policies have been implemented in our country, as in many parts of the world. Apart from medical necessities, abortion, which is essentially a form of murder, has been legitimized and normalized by the same circles. As a result, our demographic balance has unfortunately been disrupted. Today, we are dramatically facing the painful and negative consequences of these wrong, or rather malicious, policies.
The data released by TÜİK in recent months clearly reveals the threats our country is facing. Turkey's fertility rate has dropped to 1.48 for the first time in our history. This is a disaster. This figure is well below the critical threshold of 2.1. Whether in power or in opposition, no one can remain indifferent to this. Of course, when we say this, someone immediately brings up "the economy." Especially the opposition frequently exploits this issue. Today, I find it necessary to clarify a truth that the opposition is almost trampling on. The reason for the decline in the birth rate in our country is not at all the periodic problems in the economy. On the contrary, during periods when the income per capita was one-fifth of the current level, our fertility rate was nearly twice as high. As the standard of living has increased over the years, our fertility rate has begun to decline for many reasons.
Similar situations are not only present in Turkey but also in other countries around the world. Look, today in more than half of the countries in the world, the fertility rate is below the population replacement level. The global fertility rate was 5 in 1950, and it has dropped to 2.2 in 2024. The average total fertility rate of European Union member countries is 1.38. Malta, despite having a per capita income of $41,000, has a fertility rate of 1.06, placing it among the lowest in Europe. Bulgaria, with the highest fertility rate in Europe at 1.81, has a per capita income of $16,000.
Rather than economic difficulties, the comfort of popular culture, the consumption, and the encouragement of selfish desires are the most significant reasons for these troubles.
Details are coming.