Famous shopping mall will not allow under-18s entry without a guardian
A major shopping mall located in the capital, Ankara, has announced that individuals under the age of 18 will not be allowed entry on weekends without a parent or guardian, citing recent security concerns.
12punto
A famous shopping mall located in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara has announced the implementation of a new entry rule in a statement to the public. According to the regulation, individuals under the age of 18 will only be able to enter the shopping mall on weekends if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The statement noted that this decision was influenced by verbal disputes and physical altercations that have occurred among groups of young people, particularly in recent weeks. It was stated that these incidents have led to complaints from both other visitors and store staff. It was emphasized that the practice was initiated following an assessment made with relevant law enforcement agencies in line with the shopping mall's security priorities. Furthermore, the mall management pointed out that individuals involved in fights or causing disturbances may be removed from the center altogether.
"OUR GOAL IS NOT TO EXCLUDE OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OUR YOUTH"
In the statement made by the authorities, it was specifically noted that the practice is not intended to exclude or discriminate against young people. The statement included the following: "The purpose of this decision is in no way to exclude or discriminate against our youth. On the contrary, it is to both ensure the safety of our young people and to provide a peaceful shopping environment for all our visitors. Indeed, similar practices can be implemented periodically in different parts of our country for security reasons. It is observed that the subject has been handled incompletely and one-sidedly in some news reports, and it is of great importance that the public is correctly informed. Our shopping mall continues its mission of being an open, inclusive, and safe social living space for all its visitors, as it has always been."
While it was conveyed that the public would continue to be correctly informed, the shopping mall management underscored that it aims to offer a more peaceful and secure environment for visitors with the new decision taken.