Interior Minister Yerlikaya announces the number of foreigners who have acquired Turkish citizenship exceptionally: Important figures on the agenda

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya listened to the evaluations of deputies and answered questions directed at him at the Planning and Budget Committee he attended at the TBMM.

Speaking about the tension experienced with Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır, Minister Yerlikaya stated, "I was very saddened when Ali Mahir Başarır and his friends blocked me when we arrived here this morning. I think it does not suit this place."

"WE HAVE MADE 9,780 ARRESTS RELATED TO ILLEGAL BETTING"

Regarding the question asked about illegal betting operations, Minister Yerlikaya said, "We have made 9,780 arrests related to illegal betting. We are continuing our efforts. I would like to state that 9,874 websites have been blocked, and 77,970 social media accounts have been restricted from access."

"WE HAVE ANSWERED 90.1 PERCENT OF WRITTEN QUESTIONS"

Stating that most of the parliamentary questions have been answered, Minister Yerlikaya included the statement, "We have answered 90.1 percent of the written parliamentary questions preferred by our deputies through the parliament since November 19 to date."

"THERE ARE 1,701 INVESTIGATION REQUESTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES"

Speaking about the question regarding investigations into municipalities, Minister Yerlikaya replied, "There were 1,701 investigation requests regarding municipalities, including 301 for the AK Party, 338 for the Republican People's Party, 46 for the Nationalist Movement Party, 16 for the HDP, 17 for independents, and 983 for others. Of these, investigation permission was granted for 59 for the AK Party, 58 for the Republican People's Party, 21 for the Nationalist Movement Party, 7 for the İyi Party, 10 for the HDP, and 21 for other municipalities. Those for which investigation permission was not granted are 109 for the AK Party, 93 for the Republican People's Party, 43 for the Nationalist Movement Party, 23 for the İyi Party, 6 for the HDP, and 21 for others."

"155 OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE SINCE THE DAY WE TOOK OFFICE"

Minister Yerlikaya answered the question regarding the suicides of police and other security personnel by saying, "Since the day we took office, unfortunately, 155 of our law enforcement personnel have committed suicide, including 79 police officers, 79 gendarmerie personnel, and 2 coast guard personnel. Suicide is a judicial incident. We also initiate an administrative investigation. As for the reasons for the suicides, 30 percent are due to domestic disputes, 52 people due to reasons such as bad habits, excessive debt, and crypto money, 13 people due to psychological reasons, 17 due to romantic relationship issues, 12 due to other reasons, and there are 14 cases still under investigation."

"THERE ARE 238,781 SYRIANS WHO HAVE EXCEPTIONALLY ACQUIRED TURKISH CITIZENSHIP"

Regarding the question about foreign nationals who have acquired citizenship rights, Minister Yerlikaya replied, "There are 238,781 Syrians who have exceptionally acquired Turkish citizenship. There are 159,433 foreigners who have exceptionally acquired Turkish citizenship for investment purposes. Of these, 46,163 are investors, 35,399 are their spouses, and 77,871 are their children."

"MIGRANT SMUGGLING ORGANIZERS ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS OR URBAN BANDITS"

Regarding the questions asked about irregular and illegal migration, Minister Yerlikaya said, "When I arrived, the number of regular migrants was 5 million 196 thousand. With the work and policies we have implemented, this number is 4 million 174 thousand 706 today. We are fighting against irregular migration without interruption, without stopping. Migrant smuggling organizers are no different from organized crime groups or urban bandits. There are 6,660 detainees to date. We are also following 2,693 people who are currently under judicial control. We are also following the migrant smuggling organizers who will be released from prison within a month. In 2023, the migration administration of 27 European countries deported 91 thousand people alone. We deported 132 thousand. We will exceed 140 thousand this year. There is no tolerance for irregular migration. It is continuous and effective."

THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR WAS ACCEPTED BY THE TBMM PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMITTEE

The total appropriation proposal of the Ministry of Interior for the 2025 fiscal year was submitted to the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee as 1 trillion 93 billion 985 million 969 thousand liras. The budget of the ministry's central units was submitted to the committee as 96 billion 401 million 694 thousand liras, with the total budget of all affiliated organizations being 997 billion 584 million 275 thousand liras, consisting of 416 billion 426 million 543 thousand liras for the General Directorate of Security, 261 billion 262 million 624 thousand liras for the Gendarmerie General Command, 16 billion 766 million 308 thousand liras for the Coast Guard Command, 36 billion 205 million 532 thousand liras for the Presidency of Migration Management, and 266 billion 923 million 268 thousand liras for the AFAD Presidency.

In the Ministry of Interior's budget, 779 billion 747 million 196 thousand liras were presented as current appropriations and 314 billion 238 million 773 thousand liras as investment appropriations. Following the deliberations, the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget of the Ministry of Interior was accepted.