National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission

National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission is a 51-member parliamentary commission established under the umbrella of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) with the objective of "Turkey without Terrorism", aiming to strengthen social cohesion, national solidarity and brotherhood. The commission held its first meeting on 5 August 2025 under the chairmanship of TBMM President Numan Kurtulmuş.

First meeting of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, 5 August 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)

Establishment Process and Objective

The commission was established within the framework of The "Turkey without Terrorism" process, marking a historic turning point in Türkiye’s fight against terrorism. According to statements made by TBMM President Numan Kurtulmuş, the commission’s purpose is to completely remove terrorism from Türkiye’s agenda, strengthen social cohesion and reinforce national unity and brotherhood. In pursuit of this goal, the commission has taken on the tasks of solidifying the disarmament process through social peace, preparing necessary legal reforms within the framework of the principles of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, and constructing a language of peace that encompasses societal diversity. Additionally, identifying required legal reforms and informing public opinion about the process fall within the commission’s mandate.

Determination of the Commission’s Name

The commission’s name was unanimously adopted as “National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission” during its first meeting on 5 August. This proposal was accepted in accordance with the views of political parties. TBMM President Kurtulmuş stated that the commission is not an ordinary committee but a historic structure embodying the will to restore social peace and reinforce brotherhood.

Structure and Membership Distribution

The commission consists of a total of 51 members. Membership distribution was determined based on the representation ratios of political parties in the TBMM:

• AK Party: 21 members
• Republican People’s Party (CHP): 10 members
• People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party): 4 members
• Nationalist Movement Party (MHP): 4 members
• New Path Party: 3 members
• Turkish Workers’ Party (TİP): 1 member
• Labour Party (EMEP): 1 member
• Rebirth Party: 1 member
• Democratic Left Party (DSP): 1 member
• Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR): 1 member
• Democratic Party (DP): 1 member

The commission includes party leaders and group deputy chairs. The Democratic Party did not submit its designated members within the stipulated period.

Commission Members

AK Party (21 Members)

• Mustafa Şen (Trabzon)
• Kürşad Zorlu (Ankara)
• Hüseyin Yayman (Hatay)
• Abdulhamit Gül (Gaziantep)
• Cüneyt Yüksel (İstanbul)
• Sunay Karamık (Adana)
• Selami Altınok (Erzurum)
• Kemal Çelik (Antalya)
• Mehmet Sait Yaz (Diyarbakır)
• Mahmut Atilla Kaya (İzmir)
• Şengül Karslı (İstanbul)
• Mehmet Şahin (Kahramanmaraş)
• Ayşe Böhürler (Kayseri)
• Radiye Sezer Katırcıoğlu (Kocaeli)
• Tahir Akyürek (Konya)
• Ali Kıratlı (Mersin)
• Cevahir Asuman Yazmacı (Şanlıurfa)
• Gökhan Diktaş (Tekirdağ)
• Burhan Kayatürk (Van)
• Abdurrahman Babacan (Malatya)
• Ersan Aksu (Samsun)

CHP (10 Members)

• Murat Emir (Ankara)
• Okan Konuralp (Ankara)
• Nurhayat Altaca Kayışoğlu (Bursa)
• Mustafa Sezgin Tanrıkulu (Diyarbakır)
• Türkan Elçi (İstanbul)
• Turan Taşkın Özer (İstanbul)
• Oğuz Kaan Salıcı (İstanbul)
• Murat Bakan (İzmir)
• Gökçe Gökçen (İzmir)
• Mehmet Salih Uzun (İzmir)

MHP (4 Members)

• Feti Yıldız (İstanbul)
• Muhammed Levent Bülbül (Sakarya)
• Halil Öztürk (Kırıkkale)
• Yücel Bulut (Tokat)

DEM Party (4 Members)

• Gülüstan Kılıç Koçyiğit (Kars)
• Meral Danış Beştaş (Erzurum)
• Hakkı Saruhan Oluç (Antalya)
• Cengiz Çiçek (İstanbul)

New Path Party (3 Members)

• Bülent Kaya (İstanbul)
• Mehmet Emin Ekmen (Mersin)
• Mustafa Bilici (İzmir)

Other Parties (1 Member Each)

• Ahmet Şık (TİP, İstanbul)
• İskender Bayhan (EMEP, İstanbul)
• Doğan Bekin (Rebirth Party, İstanbul)
• Önder Aksakal (DSP, General Chairman)
• Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu (HÜDA PAR, General Chairman)
• Haydar Altıntaş (Democratic Party, İzmir; membership notification submitted later)

Working Procedures and Principles

The commission’s working procedures and principles consist of twelve articles. According to these principles:

• The TBMM President chairs the commission. In the President’s absence, designated commission members assume the chairmanship in order.
• Commission members serve for the duration of the commission’s work. Political parties may replace members selected from their quotas and notify the TBMM Presidency of any vacancies.
• Meetings are convened by the TBMM President; the agenda is determined with consideration of proposals from political parties.
• A quorum for meetings requires a simple majority of total members; decisions on drafting legislative proposals require a two-thirds majority.
• Full minutes are recorded at all meetings; the commission decides whether to make these minutes public.
• Sufficient numbers of legislative experts will be assigned to support commission work; expert assistance may also be sought from public institutions, universities and civil society organizations as needed.
• Representatives from public institutions, universities and civil society organizations may attend commission meetings in accordance with the agenda.
• The commission will operate until 31 December 2025; this period may be extended by two months at a time, upon decision by a two-thirds majority.

First Meeting and Statements by TBMM President Numan Kurtulmuş

At the first meeting held on 5 August 2025, TBMM President Numan Kurtulmuş stated that the commission represents the beginning of a process that will shape Türkiye’s future. He emphasized that this process is not a matter for political structures but for the nation, and that the Assembly is the legitimate forum for solutions in this new era initiated by the silencing of arms.

Kurtulmuş identified transparency as the commission’s first principle, openness as the second, and pluralism as the third fundamental principle. He stated that information regarding commission activities would be communicated solely by the TBMM Presidency.

Views of Political Party Representatives

At the commission’s first meeting, representatives of political parties expressed their views on the process. AK Party Deputy Chairman Kürşad Zorlu stated that the commission is the institutional representation of the nation’s longstanding unified stance against terrorism. AK Party Group Deputy Chair Abdulhamit Gül defined the "Türkiye without terrorism" process as a national common project and emphasized that it is not merely a security issue but also a brotherhood initiative.

HÜDA PAR General Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu stated that the unconditional surrender of arms is a significant development and expressed the desire for this step to be implemented in practice. Representatives of the Rebirth Party, Turkish Workers’ Party, EMEP, DSP and Democratic Party also offered various suggestions and assessments regarding the process.

Future Process and Timeline

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 8 August 2025. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and National Intelligence Organization President İbrahim Kalın have been invited to brief the commission on their ongoing work and recent developments.

The commission will continue to inform the public about its activities through the TBMM Presidency. Inclusiveness and pluralism, ensuring the contribution of all societal segments, have been adopted as fundamental principles.