Interior Minister Yerlikaya's statements on children driven to crime and foreigners: 2 thousand 147 Syrians granted citizenship

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

Regarding the question about investigation permits granted to municipalities, Minister Yerlikaya replied, "Since the local administration elections on March 31, 2024, we have granted investigation permits to a total of 1 thousand 48 municipalities. Investigation permits were granted to 472 AK Party, 267 CHP, 78 MHP, 4 IYI Party, 16 DEM Party, and 211 municipalities from other parties. There are 1 thousand 424 files for which no permit was granted."

Regarding the question about allegations of mistreatment of foreign nationals in removal centers, Minister Yerlikaya replied, "Removal centers conducted 884 supervised visits in 2023, 898 in 2024, and 1 thousand 343 in 2025. Our goal is zero tolerance.

We monitor them constantly with cameras, except for private areas. We have also made body cameras mandatory for all our colleagues working inside. We will have body cameras used in our remaining 32 removal centers in 2026.

In 2025, 17 allegations of mistreatment were made. Judicial investigations were opened against 22 personnel, and administrative investigations were opened against 52 personnel."

"SINCE THE DAY I TOOK OFFICE, 2 THOUSAND 147 SYRIANS HAVE BEEN GRANTED EXCEPTIONAL CITIZENSHIP"

Making statements regarding the issue of Turkish citizenship granted to Syrians, Minister Yerlikaya said, "Since the day I took office, 2 thousand 147 Syrians have been granted exceptional citizenship. 1 thousand 44 of them are adults."

Responding to a question about meetings, demonstrations, and marches, Minister Yerlikaya said, "In 2025, permission was requested from the relevant authorities for 1 thousand 296 meetings, demonstrations, and marches. 1 thousand 235 of them were granted permission. There was an event in Diyarbakır on October 18. It started legally, but it ceased to be legal in the late hours of the night. Negotiation was initiated. When it was not successful, three of our police officers were attacked. 7 of the 8 individuals we identified were arrested. Efforts to capture 1 suspect are ongoing."

"EACH OF THE POLICE SUICIDES IS UNDER PROSECUTORIAL INVESTIGATION"

Stating that they continue their work regarding police officers who committed suicide, Minister Yerlikaya said, "Each of the police suicides is under prosecutorial investigation. Everyone in the police officer's circle, including their family, is being interviewed. As a ministry, we also open administrative investigations. We are listening to everyone. Even if there is a single case of 'mobbing' related to this situation, I will not keep the person who did it in the organization."

"WE REVOKED THE CITIZENSHIP OF 451 FOREIGNERS"

Speaking about the operation organized against individuals who acquired Turkish citizenship through illegal means, Minister Yerlikaya said, "We conducted simultaneous operations in 19 provinces on September 24. 49 of the 117 suspects who made collusive real estate sales to 451 foreigners to help them and their families acquire Turkish citizenship were arrested. We also revoked the citizenship of 451 foreigners. We canceled them the moment we determined they were acquired through fraud."

"WE DEPORTED 326 THOUSAND 195 PEOPLE"

Making statements regarding the measures taken against illegal migration, Minister Yerlikaya said, "In irregular migration, Turkey has ceased to be a target country and a transit route. 1 thousand 406 kilometers of security walls and physical barriers were built on the borders. 1 thousand 584 kilometers of lighting have been installed. 1 thousand 878 kilometers of patrol roads, 373 kilometers of camera sensors, 139 various surveillance vehicles, 362 electronic towers, 223 surveillance towers, 284 thermal cameras, 9 snow-blowing vehicles for winter, and 150 drones can see people coming from 10 thousand meters. At 4 thousand meters, it becomes capable of identifying their faces and other information. During the period we took office, the number of people prevented while trying to enter our borders was 303 thousand 150. We deported 326 thousand 195 people."

"IDENTITY CHECKS OF 6 MILLION 28 THOUSAND FOREIGNERS WERE PERFORMED"

Stating that more than 6 million foreign nationals have been inspected with mobile migration vehicles, Minister Yerlikaya said, "With 375 Mobile Migration Point vehicles, the identity checks of 6 million 28 thousand foreigners have been performed to date. 236 thousand 212 irregular migrants were detected. 50 thousand inquiries were made in our cities within the first three months. 74.5 percent of these, meaning 3 out of every 4 people, were irregular migrants. For the last 7 months, we have been conducting an average of 410-415 thousand inquiries per month; the rate of irregular migrants found is 1.4 percent."

"WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT KIND OF REGULATION SHOULD BE MADE"

Speaking about the issue of children driven to crime, Minister Yerlikaya said, "It is time to reconsider the deterrent effect of penalties in this regard. In 2020, 12.6 percent of intentional homicide crimes were committed by children driven to crime. In 2024, this rate was 11.4 percent. In our country, children aged 12 and under cannot be punished. However, we need to discuss what kind of regulation should be made for those aged 15 and over."

Following the discussions at the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee, the budgets of the Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of Security, the Gendarmerie General Command, the Coast Guard Command, the Presidency of Migration Management, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency were accepted.