Çeler: "Our Future Cannot Be Sacrificed to Twisted Mentalities"

In a written statement, Çeler expressed his outrage, saying, “These figures project the image of a child-abusing northern Cyprus. Our future cannot be sacrificed to twisted mentalities. This is a collective shame for everyone in this country.”

“A Shocking Reality Ignored by the Public”

Çeler criticized the lack of public discourse on this issue, stating, “The horrific statistics announced by the Medical Association have frozen our blood, yet this scandal has not been adequately discussed in the public sphere.”

Reflecting on his brief tenure as Minister of Labor and Social Security, Çeler asserted that such figures would not have surfaced had his government remained in office. “I say this sincerely as a human being first, and as a responsible politician,” he added.

“We Are Failing to Protect Our Children”

Calling the situation a sign of societal decay, Çeler emphasized that it concerns not only government bodies like the Ministry of Labor, Social Services, and the police but also civil society and every citizen. He said, “These numbers show that we are failing to protect our children, failing to educate them, failing to monitor and punish those who harm them. These failures must be addressed urgently.”

“A Drift Toward a Middle Eastern Mentality”

Çeler warned that this situation symbolizes northern Cyprus's rapid drift toward a Middle Eastern mentality. “In an era where children should be in schools, playing in parks, and growing with technological advancements, their becoming parents is an unacceptable tragedy,” he stated.

He called for immediate collective action, including identifying the affected children, listening to their stories, providing rehabilitation, and taking all necessary legal steps.

“Our future cannot be sacrificed to the twisted ideologies of certain individuals. This is a crime against humanity, and all relevant institutions must act now to eliminate this shame at all costs,” Çeler concluded.