To all who may be reporting back to their home countries, yesterday was a profoundly sad and unsettling day for the Turkish Parliament. Since I’ve been working here for about four years as a political advisor, I thought I had seen enough to stay composed — but even at 33, I found myself genuinely speechless. What happened shook everyone inside these walls. It’s one thing to read about such events from afar, but it’s something entirely different to feel the weight of them in the place where you spend your everyday life. I wanted to share this openly, because it has been heavy on my mind.
A scandal has emerged in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) involving allegations that young female vocational high school interns working in the Assembly’s restaurant were subjected to sexual abuse by staff members. Reports suggest the misconduct may have been ongoing for years and may have involved a group of around ten employees who “assigned” interns among themselves. The situation came to light after a 16-year-old intern reported inappropriate messages to authorities, prompting her family to file a criminal complaint.
The TBMM Secretariat-General confirmed the allegations and launched an administrative investigation. One public employee has been suspended, while inquiries into other suspects continue. The Secretariat announced that disciplinary actions — including possible dismissal — will be taken once the investigation concludes, and that all findings will be shared with judicial authorities.