Turkey establishes parliamentary commission to investigate school attacks and social media impact

Turkey's parliament has formed a 22-member commission to investigate recent deadly school attacks in Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa, with a mandate that covers security, education, family life, social media and the broader social environment, the panel's chair said on Friday.

Yusuf Beyazıt, an AK Party lawmaker from Tokat who heads the Parliamentary Investigation Commission on the Causes of School Attacks, told Anadolu Agency that the commission will visit both provinces to assess the incidents on-site. "Our road map includes visiting Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş to assess the incidents on-site," Beyazıt said.

The commission held its first meeting and formed its administrative board. Beyazıt said all political parties supported the establishment of the inquiry. The panel includes lawmakers with backgrounds in medicine, education and law, he added.

Beyazıt said the commission will gather information from public institutions, civil society groups and experts. It will examine the effects of social media, television and external influences on children, as well as teacher-student relations and communication between families and children. "We will examine whatever factors may help prevent similar incidents," Beyazıt said. "If legislative work is needed, we will make recommendations."

The commission's working schedule will be determined next week, including which experts and institutions will be invited to provide input, Beyazıt said. He added that he plans to visit the graves of children who lost their lives and meet with families and injured students.

After completing its work, the commission will prepare a report and submit recommendations, including possible legislative proposals.

The recent school attacks have accelerated work on a new social media regulation package, intensifying political momentum around digital child safety. A second school shooting in Kahramanmaraş by a 14-year-old boy killed 10 people, sparking debate about social media. In the aftermath, authorities uncovered a barrage of online threats against schools, most of which were traced to underage individuals.