President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that protecting non-smokers from cigarette smoke is more important than smokers' freedom to enjoy cigarettes, as he hosted a reception at the presidential palace for some 250 people who had quit smoking on Tuesday.
Stating that it is an essential duty of the state to protect its citizens against the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, Erdoğan said that Turkey has been working hard to decrease the number of smokers.
“There can be no such freedom as the freedom to smoke. What really matters is that we protect the freedom of non-smokers rather than smokers,” said Erdoğan.
