The attack on the school in Kahramanmaraş was discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly General Assembly.

30.04.2026 09:46

Tension escalated in the Turkish Grand National Assembly General Assembly during a debate sparked by the school attack in Kahramanmaraş. The tension peaked with a "you are not a man" exchange that erupted between CHP Deputy Group Chair Ali Mahir Başarır and AK Party Istanbul Deputy Adem Yıldırım. The argument, filled with mutual insults, ended with the intervention of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Bekir Bozdağ.

In the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), a debate occurred among deputies regarding the school attack in Kahramanmaraş.

The TBMM General Assembly convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdağ to discuss the 'Draft Law on Amendments to the Land Registry Law and Certain Laws and Decree Law No. 375,' which includes regulations on excessive site dues. During the non-agenda speeches section, DEM Party Ağrı Deputy Sırrı Sakık made evaluations regarding Gülistan Doku, while Deputy Speaker Bozdağ warned deputies to remain silent. Upon this, Sakık stated that his speaking time should be reset, while Bozdağ noted that he was keeping track of the time. Reacting to Bozdağ, Sakık remained silent for a short while.

"SHAME ON YOU"

Subsequently, during non-agenda speeches, AK Party Kahramanmaraş Deputy İrfan Karatutlu took the floor. Evaluating the school attack in Kahramanmaraş, Karatutlu said, "Misinformation started at the level of the party leader, deputy leader, group deputy chair, deputy, and press members. Claim 1: Five teachers were previously dismissed from the school. Why were they dismissed? For raising their own children's grades on the computer, not for this incident. Claim 2: Our brother Yusuf's name was not written because at 08:20, according to information from the Health Directorate, Yusuf appeared injured, so of course he wouldn't be listed. At 10:30, the second news from the Health Directorate stated that Yusuf's identification was incorrect and that he had passed away. Was he on the list? Yes, of course, and written in capital letters. Afterwards, families were consulted. About what? 'Do you have any preferences for the funeral?' I am someone who had previously spoken with Yusuf's father. You claim, 'He did this because of the decree law.' What was said? 'To avoid chaos, let there be no police or press.' What did we understand from this? We thought to avoid a crowded environment. What did we do? We were at the funeral with 2 of our deputies, our Metropolitan Mayor, and our Provincial Chair. So, what happened? The minister did not come. We were always there. You issued a statement calling it a 'Maraş massacre.' Shame on you. You are still trying to revive wounds from 40-50 years ago."

"YOU ARE THE ONE TALKING NONSENSE, DISRESPECTFUL"

While AK Party's Karatutlu continued speaking despite his time running out, reactions came from the opposition benches, and CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır took the floor. Başarır said, "I thought when speaking on this tragic incident in Kahramanmaraş, he would discuss different matters. Look, as opposition deputies, we have spoken a lot about this incident," while AK Party Istanbul's Adem Yıldırım interjected, saying, 'You talked nonsense.'

Upon this, Başarır responded, "You are the one talking nonsense, disrespectful. Who are you saying 'You're talking nonsense' to? Enough, what is happening? You sit there and constantly throw remarks. What a disrespectful person you are. Can this happen? Enough, your job there is not provocation."

"HE REVEALED THAT YOU SPOKE WITH FALSE NEWS"

During Başarır's remarks, AK Party's Yıldırım taunted, saying, "Don't speak falsely, be polite. He revealed that you spoke with false news. Disrespectful guy, and you still get up and talk." Intervening, Deputy Speaker Bozdağ invited deputies to be mutually respectful and turned to Yıldırım, saying, "Your speaker has spoken, now he will speak; you will listen patiently and use respectful language. Sayın Yıldırım, please, I implore you."

"WHY DID YOU REJECT OUR RESEARCH PROPOSALS ON SCHOOL SECURITY?"

Then, CHP's Başarır continued: "The records are there; I say we, the opposition, spoke about our deceased children, our murdered children, and he says 'Talked nonsense'; is this acceptable? This is unbecoming of the Parliament. Seriousness: As the opposition, we have made many comments and statements on this issue. We have repeatedly submitted research proposals on school security, security issues in schools, and school surroundings; why did you reject them? We submitted a bill for assigning 65,000 specialist sergeants to schools according to Article 37 of the Internal Regulations; why did you reject it? Seriously. We said these things; this is not a perception."

"IT IS AN EMOTIONAL BREAK"

Yeni Yol Group Chair Bülent Kaya stated that ministers attended the funeral of 8 students who died in the attack, but there was no ministerial-level attendance at the funeral of the 9th student. Kaya said, "An AK Party official personally told me, 'Either there was a scheduling conflict, or it was not intentional absence, and the family did not request them not to come.' What I am trying to express is: A grieving father, a father who lost his child, if on that painful day he turns to the ruling party and says, 'Let bureaucrats or those from Ankara not come to my funeral,' this is a very serious emotional break. There is a saying in Anatolia: 'Neither for death nor for life'; one shudders at this."

"SHAME ON YOU"

DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Sezai Temelli emphasized that Kahramanmaraş is in pain, saying, "Maraş is still in mourning; you are a deputy of Maraş. You come here and engage in politics over this pain. What business do you have here? You haven't even felt Maraş's mourning and pain. 9 children and 1 teacher died. This is not an isolated incident; it's not a calculation of who attended the funeral; death has fallen over Maraş, death has fallen over a school, death has fallen over neighborhoods. Instead of feeling this, you get up and shout 'Shame on you' at our colleagues who are fighting for a non-violent society and safe schools. I think shame on this mentality, shame on you."

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO WAG YOUR FINGER AT THE OPPOSITION"

İYİ Party Group Deputy Chair Turhan Çömez noted that Türkiye is experiencing great pain due to the attack in Kahramanmaraş, saying, "In such an incident, in an atmosphere where everyone should put their head in their hands and think, making provocative speeches and blaming others under the roof of the TBMM is extremely wrong. As the opposition, we will hold you accountable. Why will we hold you accountable? I was there that day, I spoke with all families, with the school, I went to the hospital, I saw our injured children; I witnessed many things I do not find appropriate to discuss here. But as the opposition, we have the responsibility to hold you accountable. While you should be answering these, you have no right to wag your finger at the nation or the opposition."

"I HAVE AN ANSWER FOR EVERY WORD"

After the debate, as the General Assembly proceedings continued, Deputy Speaker Bozdağ gave the floor to AK Party Istanbul Deputy Adem Yıldırım.

"YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TAKE THE BAIT"

Deputy Speaker Bozdağ told AK Party's Yıldırım that he and CHP's Başarır had been engaged in a mutual exchange, and that if every barb were met with a right to speak, the General Assembly could not function. Başarır said, "You didn't put that rude man in his place. I'll teach him what it means to be a man. He is someone who constantly behaves immorally here, a worthless person. You rude man. Get out of here," while Yıldırım said, 'You're not a man anyway.' Başarır added, 'Shameless man. Your face is like felt, you can't stop taking the bait. Your comeuppance has arrived. Shameless. How old are you, still taking the bait? Who do you think you are?'

AK PARTY'S PROPOSAL ON THE ASSEMBLY'S WORK APPROVED

Later in the General Assembly, a group proposal submitted by political parties to the Turkish Grand National Assembly Presidency regarding the agenda and working hours of the General Assembly was approved. Accordingly, the 'Draft Law on the Approval of the Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding Between Turkey and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for the Establishment of the OECD Istanbul Center' was placed 7th on the General Assembly agenda, and the 'Draft Law on the Approval of the Amendments Made in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022 to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006' was placed 8th on the agenda.

Today and tomorrow, the General Assembly will discuss the 'Draft Law on Amendments to the Land Registry Law and Certain Laws and Decree Law No. 375', which includes regulations on excessive site dues. On Thursday, April 30, the agenda will include draft laws on international agreements. On Tuesday, May 5, the General Assembly will begin discussions on the 'Draft Law on Amendments to the Soil Conservation and Land Use Law and Certain Laws'.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY WORK CONTINUES

Following the proposals of party groups, the General Assembly continues its work.