Artists Initiative calls for the dismissal of Minister Tekin

Reactions continue against Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, who stated in his speech at the Grand National Assembly, "We have a total of 10 protocols with structures that you call 'sects and communities' but we call 'NGOs'.

We will continue to sign protocols with them.

Because they prevent children from joining armed groups."

The Artists Initiative has called for the dismissal of Minister of National Education Tekin.

"The person holding the office of Minister of National Education has openly declared war on the secular Republic of Turkey and secular education. By equating secularism and contemporary education with terrorism, he has declared his hostility toward modernity, universality, Atatürkism, and the Republic," the statement read, adding:

"Such a person cannot remain for even a second in such an important position as the Ministry of National Education, which concerns our country and the lives of our children, our most valuable assets.

We call on public prosecutors, parents, everyone concerned with this issue, and all Republicans to take action.

We, the artists, writers, poets, and intellectuals of our beloved country who uphold secular, contemporary, and Republican values, condemn this person and his words, and we inform our dear people that we are ready to fulfill any duty that falls upon us in this field and on this matter."

The individuals who signed the statement are as follows:

Genco Erkal, Ataol Behramoğlu, Müjdat Gezen, Dilek Türker, Erdal Atabek, Zülfü Livaneli, Edip Akbayram, Rutkay Aziz, Orhan Aydın, Bedri Baykam, Mehmet Aksoy, Zeynep Oral, Tamer Levent, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Saltık, Prof. Dr. Kemal Özmen, Prof. Dr. Onur Bilge Kula, Prof. Dr. Erendiz Atasü, Alper Akçam, Salih Turan, Nejat Yavaşoğulları, Melike Demirağ, Cahit Berktay, Nihat Behram, Mazlum Çimen, Tuna Kiremitçi, Salih Güney, Müjde Ar, Ahmet Kanneci, Nevra Bucak, Tülay Ferah, Ayhan Gülsoy, Ayça Öztorun, Tuğrul Keskin, Hidayet Karakuş, Hüseyin Yurttaş, Erhan Doğan, Levent Üzümcü, Feridun Andaç, Hüseyin Haydar, Ahmet Özer, Orhan Alkaya, Cevat Turan, Mustafa Balbay, Tevfik Kızılkaya, Elif Akkaya, Nebil Özgentürk, Öner Yağcı, Özgür Efe, Abdülkadir Paksoy, Sadık Gürbüz, Gani Cansever, Arife Kalender, Sevgi Özel, Attila Aşut, Erhan Doğan, Adil Salih, Mustafa Köz, Nevzat Çelik.