First response from Minister Memişoğlu to 'natural birth' remarks: He stands by his words

Speaking for the first time after his controversial "natural birth" and "family" remarks, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu emphasized that no pressure is being placed on anyone. The Health Minister stated that his remarks should not be misinterpreted and highlighted the importance of social awareness regarding family and fertility.

Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, who became the center of attention with his remarks during a live broadcast the other day, had drawn criticism with the words, "Let's not leave your children without siblings. If you don't have a child, you cannot be a family; you are just a husband and wife." In the same speech, comparing natural birth to cesarean section and likening natural birth to anti-smoking efforts, Memişoğlu had used the following expressions:

“I am also fighting against smoking. Am I interfering with people's freedom? I am stating clearly that natural birth is what is healthy for both the baby and the mother.”

FIRST STATEMENT CAME IN YALOVA

Minister Memişoğlu made his first assessment following the criticisms during his visit to the Yalova Governorship. Drawing attention to the declining fertility rates across Turkey, the Minister stated that the Ministry of Family and Social Services is also conducting studies on this issue and spoke as follows:

“Fertility rates have dropped due to late marriages, tendencies to have children later in life, and various socioeconomic reasons. Our young people are getting married and becoming husband and wife, but the spirit that a child adds to a family is very different. We care about the institution of the family. We have no intention of offending anyone or applying pressure.”

"WE ARE PROVIDING HEALTH INFORMATION, THERE IS NO COERCION"

Standing by his words regarding natural birth, Memişoğlu expressed that the Ministry of Health should be a guide on healthy living and made the following statements:

“Our duty is to offer suggestions that will protect public health. Just as we issue warnings like ‘Smoking is harmful’ or ‘Obesity is a threat to health,’ we have to say that what is natural and healthy is natural birth. We are not interfering with people's free will. However, if births by surgery are occurring at a rate 4-5 times higher than what should normally be the case, this is a public health issue, and we have to create awareness about this.”

"LET NO FALSE PERCEPTION BE CREATED"

Emphasizing that his statements should not be perceived as an interference with individual freedoms, Minister Memişoğlu concluded his words as follows:

“We do not want to manage anyone's thoughts or life. We are only stating what is scientifically healthy. It is not right for people to perceive these recommendations as pressure. Everyone can take responsibility for their own decisions, but the state's duty is to develop correct policies for a healthy society and to explain this to the public.”