Turkish anti-addiction body adds prostitution, technology to enemies list

ANKARA

The Turkish Green Crescent Society (Yeşilay), an organization that endeavors to protect society and its youth from “harmful habits,” has added “prostitution, technology and gambling” to its list of habits, as it prepares to receive more government funding into its budget.

A new foundation set up by Yeşilay has 3 million Turkish Liras worth of assets and it will also receive 15 million liras from the 2015 budget, which will be re-evaluated every year, according to a code announced on the Official Gazette last week.

Yeşilay has traditionally fought against tobacco, alcohol and drug addictions.

Aytun Çıray, a main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy who has served as the top ranking Health Ministry civil servant, criticized the addition of prostitution to Yeşilay's list, telling Hürriyet that although it is something to fight against, it is not necessarily an addiction.

Beyazıt İlhan, the head of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), also criticized the ministry for prioritizing Yeşilay and a narrow group of similar organizations in the struggle against drugs and alcohol.

“Prostitution is an issue that demands a multi-faceted approach. This is not an issue for Yeşilay,” İlhan said.