The question of whether women in Türkiye will be required to serve in the military has generated widespread interest on social media in recent days. The spark for this debate wasn't an official bill prepared by a political party or ministry, but rather a proposal submitted to the Petitions Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). an individual application The application requested that women, like men, be subject to military service, a fundamental civic duty within the framework of the Constitutional principle of equality. This request raised questions among citizens: "Will military service be compulsory for women?" and "Will women in Türkiye be drafted?"

Contrary to claims on social media, Currently, there is no compulsory military service for women in the Republic of Turkey.

The current military system in Türkiye is based on the old Military Law No. 1111 and the subsequent Conscription Law No. 7179. mandatory for men only Women hold positions such as officers, non-commissioned officers, and specialist sergeants in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). in professional statuses They can take on duties and receive training in this direction, but they are not subject to compulsory military service.

The petition submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which was the source of the issue of compulsory military service for women, was only an individual citizen's proposal This means that the proposal does not represent political will or a formal legislative process. Therefore, the likelihood of this petition becoming law is extremely low. The fact that it has become such a trending topic on social media reflects the social sensitivity and potential for debate created by this individual proposal.

It is known that 22 countries worldwide require women to perform compulsory military service. In countries like Israel, Norway, Sweden, and Cuba, women also serve under certain conditions. This situation brings the "principle of equality," the fundamental basis for the individual proposal in Türkiye, to an international level. However, each country's military service policy is determined by its own historical, security, and social circumstances.

In short, there is currently no consideration for compulsory military service for women in Türkiye. The issue arose from an individual proposal emphasizing the principle of constitutional equality. Existing laws mandate compulsory service for men. However, this individual application has once again fueled public debate about women's roles in the public sphere and their civic duties. Until there is a formal legal change, women's participation in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is solely a matter of professional choice.