Deputy President Yilmaz speaks on violence against teachers in response to recent school attack

Deputy President Yilmaz says a draft amendment to the Teaching Profession Law will be brought to the agenda of the Turkish Parliament in the coming days to fight against violence toward teachers

Deputy President Cevdet Yilmaz, along with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunc, and Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, visited Ankara Ataturk High School in response to recent attacks against educators.

During the visit, Yilmaz disclosed details of legislative measures against violence towards teachers, emphasizing the government’s unequivocal stance against such unacceptable acts.

Yilmaz expressed Türkiye’s stance against unacceptable acts of violence targeting education professionals, saying that he views any violence directed towards the education community as an attack on the country’s future and strongly condemns it.

He extended his condolences to the family and loved ones of educator Ibrahim Oktugan, who tragically lost his life in a recent incident in the Eyupsultan district of Istanbul. He also paid tribute to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding teacher, and all teachers who sacrificed their lives in service.

For a comprehensive and lasting solution to the problem, he said Türkiye is refining the existing framework to ensure the protection of teachers within the Teaching Profession Law, the preparations of which are ongoing. The draft text will be brought to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the coming days.

The envisaged penalties will be increased by 50%

The draft proposes that violence against educators be considered a direct reason for arrest, putting an end to the practice of not detentaining perpetrators of such acts prior to trial, preventing the postponement of their imprisonment sentences, and increasing the penalties prescribed in criminal laws for such acts by 50%.

Furthermore, it is envisaged that teachers working in private educational institutions will be protected in the same way as public servants regarding crimes committed against them due to their duties.

Yilmaz invited civil society organizations, student parents, media outlets, and all stakeholders in education to support efforts to increase awareness and sensitivity against violence.

Source: Newsroom

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