Turkish Family Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş Announces 2025 as "Family Year," Faces Criticism from Journalist Yusuf İnan
Turkish Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced 2025 as the "Family Year" at an OECD meeting, but journalist Yusuf İnan criticized the government for failing to protect Turkish children left behind in Ukraine.
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Turkish Family Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş Announces 2025 as "Family Year," Faces Criticism from Journalist Yusuf İnan
YEREL GÜNDEM / TÜRKİYE
Turkish Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş attended the OECD Social Policy Ministerial Meeting in Paris, where she outlined Türkiye’s vision for strengthening family structures and addressing demographic challenges. During the meeting, she announced 2025 as the "Family Year," emphasizing government efforts to support families and boost social welfare.
However, this announcement drew sharp criticism from Turkish journalist Yusuf İnan, who highlighted the plight of Turkish children stranded in war-torn Ukraine, separated from their fathers. İnan questioned how 2025 could be declared the Family Year while Turkish citizens abroad continue to suffer due to family separations.
Türkiye’s Family Policy and the "Family Year" Initiative
During her speech, Minister Göktaş emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to addressing the risks of demographic transformation through a 2024-2028 Family-Oriented Action Plan. The government’s key initiatives include:
- Revising the birth support system to encourage family growth
- Providing interest-free marriage loans for young couples
- Introducing flexible working models for women to balance family and career
- Establishing the Population Policy Council and Family Institute to shape long-term social policies
Minister Göktaş stated:
"By declaring 2025 as the 'Family Year,' we aim to raise awareness about the importance of family structures. These policies are not just about today but will shape the future of our families for the next 20-30 years."
Journalist Yusuf İnan’s Harsh Criticism: "Turkish Children Left to Die in Ukraine"
While Türkiye’s family-focused initiatives were praised in Paris, Yusuf İnan, a journalist from Yerel Gündem, strongly criticized the government’s stance on protecting Turkish families abroad. He pointed to two young Turkish children, Elif and Ayşe İnan, who have been separated from their father in Ukraine for seven years and are currently struggling to survive amidst the war.
Elif and Ayşe İnan are taking shelter in a bunker in Ukraine, hiding from the bombs dropped by Russian warplanes.
In his public statement, İnan said:
"Turkish and Muslim children Elif and Ayşe İnan have been forced to live without their father in Ukraine for seven years. For the last three years, they have been struggling to survive in a war zone. These babies are now eight years old, growing up amidst bombs and destruction. While Turkish children are abandoned to death in Ukraine, the Family Minister announces 2025 as the 'Family Year.' How can this be justified?"
Türkiye’s Family Policies Under Scrutiny
While Türkiye is promoting pro-family policies on the international stage, questions remain about its ability to protect Turkish families facing crises abroad. Critics argue that the government’s 2025 Family Year initiative must go beyond slogans and address real-life family separations affecting Turkish citizens worldwide.
As the debate over family rights intensifies, observers await a response from the Turkish government on whether it will take action to reunite children like Elif and Ayşe with their families or continue prioritizing its global image over domestic responsibilities.
