Erdogan expresses concern over youth vulnerable to terrorism, drug addiction and crime

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed deep concern about the youth falling prey to terrorism, drug addiction and other destructive influences during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 Higher Education Academic Year.

Speaking at the Bestepe National Congress and Culture Center, Erdogan stressed the collective responsibility to shield young people from various dangers.

“The responsibility for every young person we lose to terrorism, drug addiction, alcohol dependence, perverse ideologies, and criminal gangs falls on all of us,” Erdogan stated.

He underscored the need for cultivating well-educated and morally grounded generations to secure the nation’s future.

Role of universities in building stronger future

Erdogan urged universities to take a more active role in fostering not only academic excellence but also the moral and social development of young people.

“Education will only be successful if it is supported by national consciousness,” he stated.

“We can only look to the future with confidence when we raise generations who know their history, who know themselves, and who are confident,” the Turkish president added.

Erdogan also stressed that Türkiye cannot “stand idly by” while its youth are lost to the “dark corridors” of social media and digital platforms, which he described as breeding grounds for harmful behaviors.

Addressing recent incidents

Erdogan referenced several tragic incidents in recent months, including the killing of two young girls last week, to highlight the consequences of not addressing these issues. He called on universities to play a larger role in shaping the character of young people through social, cultural and sporting activities.

And the one incident that occurred in Eskisehir where an 18-year-old assailant carried out a brutal attack that left five injured. This marked the first incident of its kind in the country. Despite being ranked the 10th safest city globally by Numbeo, Eskisehir became the scene of the first hatred-motivated mass knife attack in Türkiye.

“Our national and spiritual values, which have kept our nation standing for centuries, will be our greatest support in this struggle,” Erdogan remarked, adding that universities should help strengthen the national identity of students.

Call for national responsibility

Erdogan reiterated that the government is determined to take stronger measures to prevent young people from falling into these destructive paths and urged academic institutions to support this effort.

“We must not leave our youth at the mercy of modern popular culture,” he said.