Will of the Nation in Parliament: Memur-Sen Demands Constitutional Safeguards for Family and Headscarf Freedom

ANKARA – On Friday, May 30, 2025, Memur-Sen, Turkey's largest civil servant confederation, delivered 5,293,000 signatures collected through a campaign aimed at protecting the family structure from international lobbying attacks and constitutionally guaranteeing dress code freedom, to the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), Numan Kurtulmuş. In the press statement held in front of the TBMM Çankaya Gate and the subsequent meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, the protection of societal values and new constitutional debates came to the forefront.

The delegation, led by Memur-Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın, emphasized that the enormous number of signatures collected under their campaign, titled "Amend the Constitution, Protect the Family," represents a powerful demonstration of the Turkish nation's commitment to the institution of family and freedom of belief.

Yalçın: "Perverse Relationships Are Being Normalized, Our Nation Resisted!"

Speaking at the press conference, Memur-Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın elaborated on the reasons for launching the signature campaign. Yalçın stated that some circles, distancing themselves from their cultural roots and influenced by "perverse lobbies," are attempting to lead society astray.

"Some collaborator civil society organizations are attempting to legitimize perversions that erode societal values by exploiting human rights rhetoric," Yalçın said, adding that some media outlets are also disregarding family privacy for ratings and presenting the family institution as a ground for crime and conflict, thereby undermining the most fundamental structure of society. Yalçın stated, "These groups, acting with the support of perverse global forces, are attempting to impose genderlessness on society by rejecting biological sex and normalize perverse relationships. Through this, they aim to fundamentally shake the family, the most rooted and moral institution in human history."

Chairman Yalçın stated that in response to these threats, the Memur-Sen family, through stands set up across Turkey and digital channels, managed to collect 5,293,000 signatures in just three months. "These signatures represent the will and determination of our beloved nation, who wholeheartedly embrace the demand to protect the family and provide a constitutional guarantee for the headscarf," he said.

Demand for Permanent Guarantee: Adding "Family Consists of Woman and Man" to the Constitution

Ali Yalçın continued his speech by addressing the concrete amendments that need to be made to the Constitution. He emphasized that the definition of the family institution should be clearly and unequivocally stated by adding the phrase "The family consists of a woman and a man. The foundation of the family relationship is marriage" to Article 41 of the Constitution.

Furthermore, he underlined the necessity of creating a permanent guarantee against discrimination and impositions based on belief by making a clear regulation in Article 24 of the Constitution that secures headscarf freedom. Yalçın stated that these demands are not merely a union stance but also "the will of the nation to uphold its beliefs and values."

"As Memur-Sen, we once again underline that we will continue our determined struggle against threats to our nation's faith, family, and freedoms, and we will not take a step back on this matter," said Yalçın, adding that the intense interest shown by the nation has clearly demonstrated the righteousness and value of this struggle, placing significant responsibilities on the political establishment.

TBMM Speaker Kurtulmuş: "This Issue Is Beyond Politics"

Following the press conference, the Memur-Sen delegation met with TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş in the Parliament Speaker's Divan Hall and presented the petition containing 5,293,000 signatures.

Kurtulmuş stated that the collection of such a high number of signatures by Memur-Sen, one of Turkey's largest labor organizations, is "highly significant." Kurtulmuş emphasized that a large-scale global campaign to destroy the family is underway, stating, "This is an issue beyond politics, even beyond religion and piety. It is not only a sensitivity belonging to Turkish society or Muslims but also an obligation for everyone around the world who cares about the future of society and considers the family as the core nucleus of society, to protect their families to safeguard the future of their societies."

"You Led the Societal Demand": Kurtulmuş underlined that global statistics also indicate a strong alarm bell regarding the family, mentioning the importance of 2025 being accepted as "Family Year." He stated that Memur-Sen's signature campaign is a "warning, a flare" that will significantly mobilize the nation. "I hope that within the framework of the constitutional amendment, the protection of the family, that the family is a sacred institution consisting of a mother and father and formed by marriage, should be clearly and unequivocally stipulated in the Constitution. In this regard, I would like to convey that I value this petition and your leadership in this societal demand," he said.

Headscarf Guarantee and New Constitution Process: Kurtulmuş stated that veiled women are now present everywhere in Turkey, and that this is how it should be. He continued, "Unfortunately, for many years, abnormal, inhuman, and anti-fundamental human rights and freedoms practices were used as a tool of oppression to discipline and control society. These are now behind us, but remembering this past period, it is our duty to establish a Turkey where these rights are constitutionally guaranteed, beyond government practices, so that no one can touch these rights, regardless of who is in power."

Kurtulmuş stated that it is possible to draft a new constitution and that the parliamentary arithmetic provides a more significant political ground for this. He noted that Memur-Sen's signatures were the "first application to the TBMM from civil society" in this process. Kurtulmuş expressed his desire for a comprehensive text to be prepared by taking the views of civil society organizations, universities, and legal circles in the new constitution drafting process.

Memur-Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın reiterated that they particularly prioritize the constitutional amendment stating, "The family consists of a woman and a man. The foundation of the family is marriage," and the constitutional guarantee of dress code freedom.

This historic delivery of signatures marked a significant milestone in the ongoing debates about societal values, freedom of belief, and family structure in Turkey, as well as the quest for a new constitution.