DMM: Claims of Over 10,000 Missing Children Annually in Turkey Are False
Ankara, February 3, 2026 – The Directorate of Communications (DMM) has issued a statement refuting claims circulating on social media that more than 10,000 children go missing in Turkey each year, and nearly 100,000 in the last eight years. The DMM emphasized that these allegations are not true.
The DMM’s statement highlighted that information shared by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) is being taken out of context and distorted for public consumption. “TÜİK statistics relate only to children for whom official missing person reports have been filed and who were subsequently found. The figures mentioned in the claims are not reflected in these data,” the DMM clarified.
Furthermore, the DMM stated that there are no official statistics published by public institutions under the heading of ‘number of missing and unfound children’.
“The claims in question were clearly and unequivocally denied by our Directorate of Communications in 2024. Despite this, it has been observed that these disinformation-laden posts, aimed at misleading the public, have been deliberately recirculated,” the statement continued.
The DMM urged the public to disregard disinformation-containing posts. The Directorate’s announcement comes amidst a broader effort to combat misinformation and ensure that accurate data is presented to the public. The misrepresentation of official statistics can lead to unwarranted public concern and distrust in institutions.
The Directorate of Communications plays a crucial role in monitoring and addressing disinformation campaigns targeting the public. This latest clarification underscores their commitment to providing factual information and debunking false narratives that could potentially harm public perception and social order. The DMM continues to encourage citizens to verify information from official and reliable sources before sharing it.
