Minister of Justice Tunç: The fight against narcotic drugs is our red line

The Narcotic Drugs Symposium was organized by Istanbul Medipol University School of Law. In the symposium held at the South Campus Conference Hall, the causes of drug use and the social, legal, and medical measures to be taken in the fight against drug addiction were discussed. Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, Istanbul Medipol University Vice-President Prof. Recep Öztürk, and Istanbul Medipol University School of Law Dean Prof. Ayşe Nuhoğlu delivered the opening speeches at the two-day scientific event. Six sessions were held and many bureaucrats, academics, lawyers, and civil society representatives contributed to the symposium, including Eyüp Yeşil, First Vice-President of the Court of Cassation, Attila Ayata, Deputy Head of the General Directorate of Security for Combating Narcotic Crimes, Mehmet Utku Öztürk, Director of the Advocacy Department of the Green Crescent Society of Türkiye, Elif Melek Balık, Examining Judge of the 10th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, and Murat Kalkan, Director of Probation in Istanbul.

MINISTER TUNÇ: NARCOTIC DRUGS ARE OUR RED LINE
Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, who made the opening speech of the second day of the symposium, started his speech by thanking Istanbul Medipol University for organizing the symposium. Minister Tunç said that the fight against drugs, which damage family relationships and create grounds for various crimes, is their red line. Making a statement about the legal regulations regarding the use and sale of narcotic drugs, Tunç said: “In our age, we witness that almost everyone is addicted to something, to a greater or lesser extent. Some people live addicted to computer games or social media, some live addicted to TV series and television, and some live addicted to the internet and their phones. In fact, in daily life, people have many addictions that can be considered diseases. Some of these are addictions to alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes, of which everyone is aware and sure of their harm. These are among the most painful and dangerous addictions that extinguish the light of life of our children and young people. Drugs are a problem that deeply affects not only individuals but also societies. Addiction is directly linked to family breakdowns, increases in crime rates, health problems, and many other problems. Therefore, the fight against drugs is of vital importance for the health and well-being of not only individuals but also societies. It is necessary to combat substance addiction with a total understanding of the problem.”