Committee to Investigate the Causes of TBMM School Attacks

The Commission to Investigate the Causes of School Attacks in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye is a parliamentary investigative commission established by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to comprehensively examine the incidents that occurred in schools in Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş, the risks children face in digital environments, develop solution proposals, and determine measures to prevent similar incidents.

The commission was established to investigate the causes of violent incidents in schools and to identify the risks children encounter in digital environments. In this context, its primary objective is to examine these incidents from multiple dimensions and to develop policy recommendations aimed at ensuring children’s safety in both physical and digital spaces. The commission’s scope is not limited to incidents occurring within schools but also encompasses digital threats faced by children and their adverse effects.

Following discussions in the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the commission members were appointed. The commission consists of 22 members representing different political parties.

The commission includes representatives from the Justice and Development Party, the Republican People’s Party, the Democracy and Progress Party, the Nationalist Movement Party, the Good Party, and the New Way Party. Members from the Justice and Development Party are Hasan Arslan, Lütfiye Selva Çam, Mehmet Emin Öz, İsa Mesih Şahin, Yıldız Konal Süslü, İrfan Karatutlu, Latif Selvi, Mustafa Hamarat, Nazım Maviş, Mehmet Ali Cevheri and Yusuf Beyazıt. From the Republican People’s Party: Suat Özçağdaş, Murat Bakan, Ali Öztunç, Gizem Özcan and Mahmut Tanal. From the Democracy and Progress Party: Yılmaz Hun and Beritan Güneş Altın. From the Nationalist Movement Party: Zuhal Karakoç and İbrahim Özyavuz. From the Good Party: Şenol Sunat. From the New Way Party: Birol Aydın.

The commission’s term of work has been set at three months, and it has been stated that it may continue its work outside Ankara if deemed necessary.

Following its establishment, the commission held its first meeting, at which its leadership structure was determined. Following the election, Yusuf Beyazıt, Member of Parliament for Tokat from the Justice and Development Party, was elected as chairperson of the commission. Lütfiye Selva Çam, Member of Parliament for Ankara from the Justice and Development Party, was appointed as vice-chairperson; İsa Mesih Şahin, Member of Parliament for Istanbul from the Justice and Development Party, as spokesperson; and İbrahim Özyavuz, Member of Parliament for Şanlıurfa from the Nationalist Movement Party, as rapporteur.

In his assessment, Yusuf Beyazıt, elected as chairperson, stated that the incidents had left deep impacts on society. He emphasized that this issue must be addressed beyond political differences and that children’s safety constitutes a shared responsibility. He expressed his belief that the commission’s decisions would contribute to preventing similar incidents.

It was decided that the next meeting will be held on 6 May to determine the commission’s work schedule. This meeting is expected to outline the methodologies to be followed, define the areas of investigation, and elaborate on the work plan. Within the scope of its activities, the commission plans to conduct comprehensive assessments based on input from relevant institutions, experts, and field data.