Parliament Simulation at Zaim Was Just Like the Real Thing
Organized by our Law Club, the “Zaim Parliament Simulation” was held in the Nizamülmülk Conference Hall. The event brought together students eager to experience the legislative processes of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. During the program, students took on the role of members of parliament, proposing bills and engaging with the legislative process.
Held at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, the simulation provided participants with a parliament experience that felt incredibly real. Among the attendees were AK Party Istanbul Deputy Av. Nurettin Alan, President of Bar Association No. 2 Av. Yasin Şamlı, IZU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Erhan İçener, and IZU Faculty of Law Vice Dean Dr. Halit Serhan Ercivelek, along with many professionals and students from the fields of law, academia, and politics.
ALAN: PARLIAMENT IS THE CENTER OF CURRENT POLITICS
In his opening speech, AK Party Istanbul Deputy Av. Nurettin Alan stated that students should become "legal engineers" who actively shape legislation. He continued: “Simulations like these don’t just help you learn existing laws they help you become individuals who discuss, improve, and guide future legislation. Parliament is also the center of current politics. Everything that concerns society is discussed there. In fact, many of the headlines you see in the news come from parliament. Historically, we are the children of a glorious civilization. However, this civilization has recently been obscured. You, the youth, are the ones who will blow truth into the ashes and reignite its fire.”
ŞAMLI: LAW IS NOT JUST LEGISLATION IT IS JUSTICE
Bar President Av. Yasin Şamlı recalled past changes in the Turkish Penal Code: “At one point, even peaceful protests were tried as attempts to overthrow the constitutional order. Even high school students demanding the right to education were prosecuted with potential death sentences. It wasn’t easy to correct these injustices. That’s why understanding the essence of law and focusing on justice is so crucial.” Şamlı emphasized that law should not be seen as limited to written rules: “A regulation can be legal but still unfair. Law, at its core, is what is just. Law is a scale.”
İÇENER: WE MUST RAISE INDIVIDUALS WHO PRODUCE KNOWLEDGE, NOT JUST CONSUME IT
IZU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Erhan İçener highlighted the value of simulation-based learning: “These simulations allow students to learn not only through theory but also through role-playing, position-taking, and direct debate. When students actively engage, learning becomes much more lasting.” He added, “This level of interest gives me hope. Today’s youth are no longer satisfied with just studying they question ideologies, world systems, and values of civilization. One foot must stay rooted in our land, the other must explore the world. That’s how a global perspective is formed. Though AI, social media, and rapid information tools save time, they can weaken mental depth. We expect our students to be not just consumers of knowledge, but also its producers.”
ERCİVELEK: OUR PARLIAMENTARY TRADITION GOES BACK TO CENTRAL ASIA
Dr. Halit Serhan Ercivelek, Vice Dean of the IZU Faculty of Law, spoke on the historical roots of the parliament concept: “When we talk about parliament, we usually refer to Western examples. But long before that, in the Turkish states of Central Asia, there was a tradition of kurultay assemblies that convened twice a year to elect rulers and decide on wars. This is a value rooted in our cultural memory. Parliament is not just an institution it represents collective thinking and decision-making.”
STUDENTS EXPERIENCED THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Chaired by Güzide Arslan, a third-year Law student and president of the Law Club, the Zaim Parliament Simulation included workshops, party meetings, committee discussions, and general assembly sessions. These activities allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of legislative processes. The event helped young participants develop skills in expression, debate, and critical thinking on social issues.