Turkey youth crisis linked to economic insecurity and violence

A report by the Financial Times examines the underlying causes of rising violence and social alienation among youth in Turkey, following two recent school shootings in April. In one incident in Şanlıurfa, 19-year-old Ömer Ket injured 16 people before taking his own life. A day later, in Kahramanmaraş, 14-year-old İsa Aras Mersinli killed 10 people and injured 15 others during an attack at his school.

The report highlights significant structural and economic challenges. According to OECD data covering 73 countries, 15-year-olds in Turkey report the lowest levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, approximately one-third of the 18-24 age demographic is neither in employment, education, nor training (NEET), a rate more than double the OECD average.

Economic factors, including high inflation and resulting insecurity, are cited as primary drivers of pessimism. Research indicates that over half of those aged 18-30 feel pessimistic about the future, with anger being a dominant emotion among young people. Experts suggest that while youth dissatisfaction is a global trend, Turkish youth face specific pressures related to perceived restrictions on freedoms and legal unpredictability.