POLITICS > We now have the chance to turn all schools into religious schools, says AKP deputy

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet archives

The ruling party now has the chance to transform all schools in Turkey into imam hatip religious schools thanks to recent educational reforms, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Ali Boğa said, private broadcaster NTV reported.

Boğa was attending the homecoming celebrations of Muğla İmam Highschool when he stated that Turkey was "now past the times when it was forbidden to read the Quran."

"We are here as imam hatip graduates, or as allies," Boğa said. "We will increase the number of these schools in records. We have the chance to turn all schools into imam hatip [schools]."

"We have that chance now that the Quran and religious classes were added to schools’ curriculum," Boğa said.

August/24/2012

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George Smily

8/28/2012 7:11:47 AM

Simple things are the best teachers, so to start let thisLegislator give up his car and go to work on a donkey. cook only on charcoals, do away with his refrigarator and eat spoiled meat, take away his cxell phone, and live in in darknes, and when he complains that an importantr man like himselfmust have better, just tell him that religeous shools dfo not teach those subjects and prayers don't hlp. If this is his mental capacity, what level is his electorate that elected him!

Kevin Snapp

8/26/2012 4:20:10 AM

From America, it looks like your democracy is working like ours -- a stupid, extremist statement from a politician wakes people up!

Nikos T.

8/25/2012 4:50:17 PM

What a pity for upcoming generations in Turkey.

zee mIR

8/25/2012 11:53:21 AM

Sounds like secularists in Turkey fearing Islamic Turkey and europeans fearing the same. Fear.oh Fear

illawarrior hill

8/25/2012 9:16:53 AM

For those who wish to learn, let religion be taught in churches, temples, mosques etc, NOT in government schools.

Can Oz

8/24/2012 7:53:24 PM

Tevfik Alp - Islam has many interpretations. Instead of dismissing an entire religion that is the foundation for your Turkish identity, why don't you instead encourage a more tolerant and gender equal interpretation? Otherwise you just become another self-hating secularist. By rejecting Islam totally, you allow the most fanatic and regressive followers to take it over.

Rosalind Polat

8/24/2012 7:35:04 PM

What a shame "brainwashing the next generation" is about to begin Why cant Turkey remain a country where religion is free for all to worship as they want - not involved in politics or education in state schools. People can study religion outside the normal curriculum

Giovanni Castillo

8/24/2012 7:16:36 PM

Fanatism in any degree in most facets of life will ultimately end in hate towards the ones that are not fanatics. Religion, politics, football, are all examples of this. In Latin America, where I was born, I received religion classes (Catholic) all my life. I still found God outside of Catholisism and I dopn't see those classes as a bas thing. Well instructed, all religions aim for the same ideals, love and undersatnding of oneself and others.

american american

8/24/2012 6:56:43 PM

tamer, modernity is the idea that the state works for the people. that the majority is not always right and that there is no more 'official' religion. now please explain what 'true' vs. 'interpreted' religion is. two asides: 1) if women were not sex objects in the past - why did they need to cover? what were belly dances/harems for? pre-marital sex is also part of society, what are your thoughts on sexual education in school?

Tevfik Alp

8/24/2012 6:41:54 PM

Islam is oppressive, restrictive on personal freedoms, arts, freeddom of speech and expression. It does not recognize the equality in between genders and promotes male dominant societies.

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