Ministers Çiftçi and Bak visit Diyarbakır amid new security policy

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi and Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak visited Diyarbakır to attend the Amedspor vs. Erzurumspor football match. The visit coincided with discussions regarding the ‘Terörsüz Türkiye’ (Terror-free Turkey) process, following the recent passage of the National Solidarity and Strengthening of Social Integration Law in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Minister Çiftçi described the new phase of the process using four terms: ‘liquidation, verification, audit, and normalization.’ He emphasized that the government is committed to supporting this period to ensure stability. The ministers also discussed security operations against criminal organizations, specifically noting that recent actions targeted the upper management of the Alihan Kuriş crime group rather than religious or conservative communities.

In the sports sector, Minister Bak announced new investments for the region, including Olympic-sized swimming pools, sports halls, and youth centers. The presence of opposing fans at matches, such as the Erzurumspor supporters attending games in Diyarbakır, is being viewed as a potential indicator of the success of the new social integration model. Additionally, the improved security climate in Southeast Anatolia is reportedly boosting health tourism, with Diyarbakır seeing increased demand from international patients.