Minister Göktaş held the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) responsible for the death of Edanur Gezer, who fell into a water-filled pit opened by İBB.

In the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the budgets of the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of National Education for the year 2025 were approved. After the speeches on the budget in the General Assembly, the question-and-answer session began. Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated that they intervene in every case that occurs, no matter where it happens in Turkey.

"WE ARE INVOLVED IN CASES"

Göktaş, who stated that they provide immediate support to those affected by incidents, said, "We meticulously follow all legal processes. We are involved in cases to protect the rights of victims and ensure that perpetrators receive the necessary punishment."

Emphasizing that they also appeal against decisions of non-prosecution when necessary, Göktaş said, "We are present as the Ministry in all cases. We stand by the victims at every stage and provide them with all kinds of support they need. We are the ones fighting for the heaviest punishment for those who took the life of our delicate daughter in her court. The defense of our lawyers has been appreciated by everyone. We are also with the family of our 5-year-old child Eda Nur, who lost her life due to the negligence of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality."

Recalling that he visited the family after the fire in Selçuk district of İzmir, where five siblings lost their lives, Göktaş said, "I have initiated all necessary investigations immediately. No one should doubt that we will take the necessary actions wherever there is negligence in this incident."

"MATTERS CONCERNING WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE ABOVE POLITICS"

Göktaş reported that they initiated all necessary investigations following the incident at a rehabilitation center in Niğde, that 16 personnel were suspended, and that they personally filed a criminal complaint against 26 personnel with the Public Prosecutor's Office, stating that 14 personnel were arrested as part of the investigation and that they were involved in the case against them.

Emphasizing that protecting children's rights and keeping them away from all kinds of political manipulation is everyone's primary responsibility, Göktaş said: "We strive to fulfill this responsibility while also considering the right of our victimized children to be forgotten. I care about our parliamentarians approaching issues concerning our children with this sensitivity. Every issue related to women and children is a matter above politics. Everyone knows that we are open to all kinds of cooperation for the well-being of our children, and all parliamentarians who reach out to me know this very well. There is not a single parliamentarian who has called me with sincere intent and has not been able to reach me. However, I cannot accept the politicization of our children. As the Minister of Family and Social Services, I will never tolerate the abuse of our children under the guise of protection. I cannot see any attempt to disclose them despite confidentiality decisions as good-natured. We have only one goal in this regard: to ensure that our children are protected and cared for in the best possible conditions, considering the principle of their best interests."

"I SUGGEST EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THEIR OWN REPORT CARDS"

Göktaş stated that they have made significant progress in women's rights, emphasizing that until very recently, women in Turkey were deprived of their right to education due to their headscarves and were distanced from their rights to education, employment, and representation due to a prohibitive and tutelary mentality.

Göktaş pointed out that those who speak of women's rights have remained silent about these injustices for years, that girls and women have been sacrificed to the dirty ambitions of terrorist organizations for years, and that their futures have been stolen, continuing: "Those who have turned a blind eye to these for years, how can they simultaneously talk about women's poverty and women's rights? I suggest our parliamentarians, who target us with unjust accusations regarding women, to listen a little to the voices of the Diyarbakır mothers. In your view, are they not women? I suggest everyone to look at their own report cards. Our nation knows very well who stands where in the struggle for women in this country. Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, fought against this tutelage system and put an end to these prohibitions. We have removed the restrictions and obstacles in every area of life, from education to health, from politics to academia, from justice to culture and art."

"YOUR MUNICIPALITIES ARE CLOSING WOMEN'S SHELTERS"

Göktaş stated that today women have a say in every field, saying, "This certainly does not mean that we have achieved all our goals. However, history will never forget those who made us lose years with prohibitions." Stating that the occupancy rate of women's shelters is 70%, Göktaş said, "Local governments are also required to open women's shelters. We see that your municipalities are not only not opening women's shelters but are also closing the ones that have been opened."

"WE CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS IN A FAIR MANNER"

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin responded to criticisms regarding protocols made with some non-governmental organizations. Tekin stated that approximately 5 billion 895 million lira would be paid to non-profit organizations from the Ministry's 2024 budget, and made the following statements: "There are payments we make from our ministry's budget to international organizations we are involved with, such as UNESCO. There are construction and personnel expenses for the schools where the Turkey Maarif Foundation waves our flag abroad. If there are those who claim that money has been transferred from our ministry's budget to non-governmental organizations and professional organizations, this is a distortion. We do not hold concerts with funds allocated from the central budget like your municipalities. We spend it entirely on education and teaching. We have not transferred a single penny to another place. We have not signed any protocol that would allocate a budget with TOBB, chambers of commerce, industry chambers, or other professional organizations, nor will we."

VILLAGE SCHOOLS CAN BE OPENED

Regarding the village schools that have been reported as closed, Tekin stated that they are ready to open these schools if there is a demand, even if there is only one student. Regarding the interviews for teacher recruitment, Minister Tekin said, "We conducted interviews in a fair manner, unprecedented in the history of the Republic."

After the speeches, the budgets for the year 2025 of the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of National Education, along with their affiliated institutions, were approved in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.