In the General Assembly held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Celal Adan, discussions were held on the 4th article of the Turkish Red Crescent Bill.
During the negotiations, AKP made an amendment proposal regarding Article 4. Along with the motion, the article aims to provide certain rights and exemptions to the Turkish Red Crescent so that it can fulfill its duties arising from national legislation and international agreements more effectively and efficiently. "In times of disasters and emergencies such as fire, flood, earthquake, at levels that require intervention at least at national capacity, and in extraordinary periods within the country; the real and special products and services produced by the Turkish Red Crescent and its economic enterprises, participations or companies, of which more than half of the capital is owned, for first aid, disaster logistics and temporary shelter." The phrase "delivery and presentation to legal entities is made only with the knowledge of the Turkish Red Crescent Headquarters Board of Directors" was added.
"THIS ISSUE HAS TURNED INTO A CONFIDENCE CRISIS, AS WELL AS ITS ECONOMIC DAMAGE"
Speaking on the fourth article, New Road Group Antalya Deputy Şerafettin Kılıç said that the Turkish Red Crescent is the symbol of solidarity and cooperation and said, "The resources of this institution, which is expected to come to the aid of our citizens in earthquakes, floods, fires and other disasters, are the trust of the nation. How this trust is used should be clear, transparent and auditable. However, the evaluation of purchases made for the purpose of preparation for disasters within the scope of the continuous tender exception raises questions about the use of public resources."
Drawing attention to the importance of preparation for disasters, Kılıç argued that the door should not be opened to unlimited exemption for this reason. Stating that they submitted an amendment proposal regarding the article in question, Kılıç suggested that the purchases made within the scope of preparation for disasters should be published on the Electronic Public Procurement Platform within thirty days from the date of purchase, and that the accounts and transactions of the Turkish Red Crescent and the enterprises of which more than half of the capital belongs, their participations and companies should be subject to the audit of the Court of Accounts. Kılıç said:
"The strengthening of the Red Crescent is of course important, but there are much more urgent issues before this Assembly than the Red Crescent. The nation is struggling to make ends meet, retirees are returning from the market empty-handed, young people are hopeless, tradesmen are in debt. There is also a huge fund fraud involving the money, goods and properties of the citizens that they have saved with their sweat. While the citizens' property is being usurped by those who manage it, no one can hide behind other agendas. The journalist who made news about the issue, while the citizen who 'tweeted' is being taken into custody, is accused of the crime. "The political aspect is not touched in any way. We feel obliged to express it again: Look, this issue has turned into a crisis of trust, let alone its economic damage. As the government, we need to manage this process with transparency and put an end to this wastefulness."
"WHY ARE YOU RUNNING AWAY FROM THE COURT OF SAI?"
CHP Tekirdağ Deputy İlhami Özcan Aygun argued that the bill would ignore the principles of accountability, supervision and public interest and open the door to new corruption, new plunder and new robberies. Aygun said, "In times of disaster, the aid arm of the state cannot be disrupted. Please withdraw this offer. With this proposal, the Red Crescent is being evaded from the Court of Accounts audit. I wonder what the purpose of the institution is, a structure independent of the Court of Accounts audit. Why are you running away from the Court of Accounts, why are you running away from the Court of Accounts, why are you running away from the Court of Accounts? As in all institutions, the AK Party government is proud of evading the Red Crescent from the Court of Accounts and making everything disappear. Again, unfortunately, the Court of Accounts." "What happens when there is no control? Corruption emerges," he said.
"RED CRESCENT HAS TURNED INTO A GIANT HOLDING"
DEM Party Mersin Deputy Perihan Koca stated that the bill grants new privileges to the Red Crescent, such as tender exemption, monopoly right, and the right to access personal data. Koca made the following evaluations regarding the bill:
"One side of the proposal has a regulation that includes the deepening of the regime. The other side has a predatory nature, which includes the looting of huge amounts of real estate within the Red Crescent. Currently, the Red Crescent institution has been turned into the backyard of the government, like almost every other institution of the state. It has been transformed into an employment center for unqualified staff through a network of political relations, and has actually been transformed into a huge commercial holding for a long time, especially through the Red Crescent Investment Holding.
Even during an earthquake like February 6, the Red Crescent chose to act with holding reflexes and chose to sell those tents instead of sending them to the disaster area in complete decay. He sold it to the Friends Association, these are available with reports and documents, we all know, all the orators are talking. Therefore, look, while the Red Crescent should be tried and punished only for this tent trade that it did during the February 6 earthquakes, unfortunately today we are talking about providing a protection shield to such a structure by the Parliament, and equipping it with incredible powers with this bill by providing an impunity and laundering operation."
While the discussions on the 5th article of the proposal were continuing, the quorum for the meeting was not found in the roll call upon request. Deputy Chairman Celal Adan closed the meeting to meet at 14.00 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, as the quorum for the meeting was not found.
