Diyanet holds 'training on combating child abuse': 'Very few incidents reach the press'
The events occurring in Quran courses, which have frequently come to the agenda in recent years due to violence, abuse, and deaths, have reached alarming levels. Following public outcry, the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) took action and organized a training program titled 'Trainer Training on Combating Child Neglect and Abuse' between December 9-12. While discussions continue within Diyanet regarding the effectiveness and delayed nature of these trainings, the lack of punishment for those responsible continues to draw criticism.
Nagihan Yılkın
Nagihan Yılkın
Courses affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), which is one of the biggest supporters of the AKP's steps toward reactionary education policies, as well as madrasas under the control of sects and communities and illegal Quran courses, continue to operate widely across the country. However, these courses have frequently come to the agenda in recent years with news of violence, sexual abuse, and death.
Diyanet sources state that only a very small portion of these incidents are reflected in the press. The sources, who stated, "What is reflected in the media is only a very small fraction of the investigations and inquiries conducted. There are very serious incidents," reveal the depth of the events.
DELAYED TRAINING STEP FROM DIYANET
Following increasing reactions, the Presidency of Religious Affairs organized a training program titled "Trainer Training on Combating Child Neglect and Abuse" between December 9-12. The online program was opened by Diyanet Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burhan İşleyen. During the training, topics such as "Definition and Scope of the Concept of Privacy" and "The Media Factor in Childhood Neglect and Abuse" were covered. The training lasted a total of 11 hours and 40 minutes and was aimed at mufti office personnel serving in 81 provinces.
DISCUSSIONS ON IMPUNITY
While it is debated that the trainings are a delayed step, the failure to punish those responsible for incidents that caused public outrage draws great reaction. For example, the appointment of former mufti Abdulhalim Acar—who was dismissed due to systematic sexual abuse and torture of 8 children at the Diyanet-affiliated Hacı Bahattin Evgi Boarding Quran Course for Boys in Erzurum—as the mufti of Altındağ, Ankara, as if he were being rewarded, fuels these discussions.
Another example occurred at the Hacı Menekşe Hatun Quran Course for Girls in Yüreğir, Adana.
Imam Tarık Karadağ, who taught at the course, was stabbed by 16-year-old M.A. on the grounds that he had harassed his 14-year-old sister. The investigation launched upon the family's complaint regarding the harassment resulted in a decision of non-prosecution, and the mufti's office did not impose any sanctions on the imam.