HÜDA PAR Spokesperson and Batman MP Serkan Ramanlı addressed a wide range of pressing social and economic issues during a press conference at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

Highlighting the financial distress faced by citizens, Ramanlı said millions are caught in a cycle of debt caused by banks offering credit limits far exceeding income levels.

“The interest burden on citizens must be erased, and debt restructuring should be reorganized in proportion to income levels,” he urged.

According to Ramanlı, individual credit debts rose by 48% in the past year, reaching 5.17 trillion lira, while nearly one in every two citizens is indebted to financial institutions.

“The average debt per person has exceeded 120,000 lira. High inflation, low purchasing power, and stagnant income growth have forced citizens to depend on credit cards and overdraft accounts just to make ends meet,” he noted.

Ramanlı warned that the current economic model, built on interest and speculation, is unsustainable and morally destructive.

“From students to retirees, from civil servants to workers, many have become virtual slaves to financial institutions. The interest-based system affects not only individuals but also the private sector,” he said.

He emphasized that Türkiye must rebuild an economy centered on justice and production: “The foundation of a just economic order is one that empowers people through production, not debt. HÜDA PAR will continue to advocate for an economy that prioritizes justice over exploitation.”

Turning to social issues, Ramanlı warned of “perverse movements” seeking to undermine the family institution and erode moral values.

“Core values such as morality and spirituality are being deliberately targeted,” he said. “Attempts by certain politicians and social media figures to legitimize such movements are altering perceptions of marriage and distorting social roles.”

He noted that in 2024, 187,343 couples in Türkiye divorced, describing it as a stark indicator of the family institution’s fragility.

“Protecting the family and youth ensures both the present and the future of society. Therefore, more effective measures must be taken against activities that threaten the family,” he stressed.

Ramanlı called for the urgent discussion and enactment of HÜDA PAR’s proposed bill to criminalize immoral propaganda and protect public morality: “Society cannot be protected without safeguarding the family, and the future cannot be built without protecting the youth.”

Addressing the difficulties faced by employees performing Friday prayers during working hours, Ramanlı reminded that freedom of worship is constitutionally protected under Article 24.

“Ensuring that public and private sector employees can freely perform their religious duties is one of the state’s primary responsibilities,” he said.

He called for a clear legal regulation — not administrative discretion — to ensure employees and students can perform their prayers comfortably.

Referring to HÜDA PAR’s proposed bill submitted on June 27, 2025, he said: “Our proposal, which allows employees to be considered on leave during Friday prayer hours, is still awaiting discussion. The public expects this legal guarantee as soon as possible.”

Ramanlı also addressed the dangers of uncontrolled social media and digital addiction, especially among youth.

“What was once a tool for communication has become a source of isolation, weakening family bonds and causing spiritual emptiness,” he warned.

He outlined a multi-sectoral strategy to combat digital addiction: “Families must monitor their children’s screen habits; schools should strengthen digital literacy programs; civil society should lead awareness efforts; and the state must regulate social media platforms and enhance addiction treatment centers.”

Concluding his remarks, Ramanlı called for a conscious balance between technology and morality: “Humanity must not be enslaved by the digital age. While benefiting from technology’s opportunities, we must build a values-based, morality-centered digital culture that preserves human dignity, family, and spiritual values.” (ILKHA)