Mustafa Çiftçi addresses school security and firearm safety in Turkey

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi has emphasized the importance of school security, noting that a protocol was recently signed with the Ministry of National Education to enhance safety measures. To support this, the government has employed 31,000 'Garden Officers' to provide security at school grounds.

Addressing firearm safety, Çiftçi stated that the responsibility for securing household weapons lies with families rather than the state. He urged parents to store firearms in inaccessible locations, such as steel safes or locked cabinets, to prevent children from reaching them.

Regarding crime statistics, Çiftçi reported a decrease in crimes against persons, noting that figures dropped from an average of 282,348 between 2021 and 2025 to 243,000 since his tenure began. He also highlighted efforts against unlicensed weapons, stating that 64,372 firearms have been seized and 68,310 individuals processed since February 10.