Breaking News... Erdoğan's swift response to the secularism declaration: 'Their problem is not secularism, it is the nation itself'

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made significant remarks during the AKP parliamentary group meeting. President Erdoğan spoke about a religious hymn recently performed at a school. Regarding the issue, Erdoğan said, "No one should be offended by this situation."

Highlights from President Erdoğan's remarks are as follows:

"I thank you for your loyalty and your devotion. I express my gratitude for supporting our cause of serving the nation.

First of all, I congratulate our deputies and guests on the holy month of Ramadan.

I thank Almighty Allah for allowing us to reach Ramadan once again. May the Lord accept our worship. These blessed days are a great opportunity for all of us. Our greatest wish, desire, and hope is for our nation and the entire Islamic world to benefit from this atmosphere of mercy to the maximum extent.

However, despite the ceasefire reached on October 10, the inability to deliver humanitarian aid as requested causes us to spend this holy month of Ramadan with a heavy heart. This Ramadan, our hearts are with our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Across our country, the holy month of Ramadan is being observed in a very different spiritual atmosphere. Our children and youth are increasingly enlivening our mosques. Our tables are becoming more abundant. Our brothers and sisters in need are being looked after more closely.

"NO ONE SHOULD BE OFFENDED"

I congratulate all our brothers and sisters, from the composer to the performer, who have etched the hymn 'Kabe'de Hacılar hu der Allah' (Pilgrims in the Kaaba say 'Hu' to Allah) into the tongues of our people from 7 to 70.

No one should be offended by this subject."

COMMENT ALSO CAME FROM BAHÇELİ

A statement regarding the matter also came yesterday from MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. Bahçeli's statement was as follows:

"They say that defending secularism is not a crime. You are all in darkness, you are in the dark, you have no idea. They claim there is a reactionary, sharia-ist siege in Turkey due to the Ministry of National Education's circular(!) If believing in Allah is reactionary, then we are reactionary through and through. If teaching our children the morality of the month of Ramadan is considered reactionary, then we are partners in this to the end."

President Erdoğan continued his words as follows:

"THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS"

Our Ministry of National Education sent a letter to all 81 provinces to organize various activities within the scope of our 'Turkey Century Education Model' and 'Ramadan at the Heart of Education'. What is in this letter? Interview programs will be organized for students throughout the month of Ramadan. Iftar tables will be set. These activities are based on volunteerism. These activities have a constitutional basis. Immediately after this letter was sent, just one day before the holy month of Ramadan, a group of bigots, who are now an endangered species, emerged and published that well-known declaration of theirs, spewing poison and hatred against the nation, singing that stale song of 'Secularism is being lost'.

"THEIR PROBLEM IS NOT SECULARISM"

They are not bothered when nonsense of unknown origin is staged under the guise of Halloween. They are never bothered by the scandals involving children that break out in the West every day. But whenever the national and spiritual values of these lands are to be explained within the scope of Ramadan, they are immediately bothered by it. We know very well the real reason for their stomach ache. We know very well how they oppressed this nation for decades by hiding behind the concept of secularism. We know very well how they have strived to alienate the children of this nation from their essence. Their problem is not secularism. It has never been secularism. Their problem is with the sacred values of these lands... Their problem is with the nation itself.

What is the matter? Why does it bother you that our children will learn to pray and fast? Why does it bother you that our children are decorating for Ramadan? Why does it bother you that our children are singing hymns in unison? Stop hiding behind the concept of secularism. Stop beating around the bush and speak your mind. If anyone is bothered, let them go and re-examine their belonging to this homeland.

News Source: 12punto