Justice Minister Gürlek's Statement on Violence in Healthcare
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek emphasized that violence against healthcare workers is a red line, stating that protecting their safety means ensuring the continuity of public service.
Speaking at the Medicine and Justice Symposium held in Istanbul, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated that violence directed at healthcare workers is a red line and that protecting their physical safety is critical for the continuity of public service. Minister Gürlek also wished mercy for the citizens who lost their lives in the heavy rainfall and disasters that recently affected Istanbul and Sakarya.
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek attended the "Medicine and Justice Symposium: Medical Practices from the Perspective of Physicians and Judges" program held in Istanbul and hosted by Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu. The program was attended by Constitutional Court President Kadir Özkaya, Court of Cassation President Ömer Kerkez, Council of State President Zeki Yiğit, as well as members of the judiciary and healthcare sectors.
Pointing out in his speech that medicine and justice are two complementary fields that directly touch human life and share the responsibility of protecting fundamental rights, Gürlek stated that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, significant reforms have been achieved in health and law, and substantial progress has been made in physical infrastructure and human resources.
Emphasizing that they will not allow healthcare workers to become unable to perform their duties due to unfounded reports and accusations, Gürlek recalled that sanctions against violence in healthcare have been strengthened. He stated that with the legislative changes made in 2020 and 2022, penalties were increased and these crimes were added to the offenses for which the existence of grounds for arrest can be presumed.