The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has submitted an amendment motion to Article 4 of the Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay) Law Proposal, which is currently being debated in the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). The motion stipulates that the Headquarters Board of Directors must be informed regarding the provision of certain products and services produced by the Turkish Red Crescent and the businesses, affiliates, or companies in which the Red Crescent holds more than half of the capital during disasters and extraordinary periods.
The General Assembly, convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Celal Adan, addressed Article 4 of the proposal. The article includes granting certain rights and exemptions to the institution to enable the Turkish Red Crescent to more effectively fulfill its duties arising from national legislation and international agreements.
The regulation proposed to be added to the article via the AK Party's motion covers the delivery and presentation of products and services produced personally for first aid, disaster logistics, and temporary shelter during disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes, as well as in emergencies and extraordinary periods, to real persons and private legal entities. Accordingly, the transactions in question will be able to be carried out with the knowledge of the Turkish Red Crescent Headquarters Board of Directors.
CRITICISM FROM THE OPPOSITION REGARDING OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY
Taking the floor on the article, Yeni Yol Group Antalya Deputy Şerafettin Kılıç stated that the Red Crescent is a symbol of solidarity and mutual assistance, and that the institution's resources are a "trust of the nation." Kılıç expressed that the continuous evaluation of purchases made under the pretext of disaster preparedness within the scope of tender exemptions raises questions regarding the use of public resources.
Kılıç stated that in their own amendment proposals, they requested that purchases within the scope of disaster preparedness be published on the Electronic Public Procurement Platform within 30 days from the date of purchase, and that the accounts and transactions of the Red Crescent and its affiliated companies be subject to the audit of the Court of Accounts (Sayıştay).
CHP Tekirdağ Deputy İlhami Özcan Aygun also argued that the proposal weakens the principles of accountability and auditing. Calling for the regulation to be withdrawn, Aygun said, "With this proposal, the Red Crescent is being shielded from the audit of the Court of Accounts."
DEM Party Mersin Deputy Perihan Koca claimed that the proposal grants the Red Crescent tender exemptions and various privileges. Arguing that the Red Crescent has long since transformed into a commercial structure, Koca directed criticisms regarding the sale of tents during the February 6 earthquakes.
While discussions on Article 5 of the proposal were ongoing, a quorum could not be found during the roll call. Deputy Speaker Celal Adan adjourned the session to reconvene on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 14:00.
News Source: 12punto
