A recent initiative of the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), inviting children aged 5 to 14 to submit creative works on “security,” “intelligence” and “secret agents,” has incited widespread criticism.
Linked to the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day celebrations on 23 April, this move has been particularly scrutinised by the Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim Sen), the most prominent union for the sector in Turkey, and the Diyarbakır Bar Association, a lawyer’s organisation. They argue that it inappropriately targets children and infringes upon their rights.
“Educational content should be age-appropriate and foster a safe and supportive learning environment. Introducing children to the complex world of intelligence and espionage does neither,” a representative from Eğitim Sen stated. Concerns have been raised about whether the Education Ministry endorsed this initiative, indicating a potential oversight in the protection of children’s welfare.
Further criticism comes from the Diyarbakır Bar Association’s Child Rights Centre, which has condemned the initiative for potentially leading children to adopt unsuitable behaviours and mindsets. “Each institution must respect its boundaries, especially when it concerns children’s development and welfare,” the centre argued, advocating for the immediate cessation of the initiative.
Both Eğitim-Sen and the Diyarbakır Bar Association have advised guardians against directing children towards this initiative, highlighting the imperative to safeguard children’s mental and emotional development.
The debate surrounding MİT’s child-focused initiative has been intensified by the agency’s problematic reputation during the leadership of Hakan Fidan, now serving as Foreign Minister. His tenure is notably shadowed by a leaked audio where he is heard suggesting provocations for the justification of Turkish cross-border actions. Moreover, the recent revelation by Fidan about his early involvement in secret services, coupled with the this initiative targeting children, might suggest a long-standing policy of engaging with youth as part of a broader strategy for future recruitment.