Home > Current Affairs News > Former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan reacts to Minister Tekin over 'Çanakkale': 'Lacking national consciousness...'

Former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan reacts to Minister Tekin over 'Çanakkale': 'Lacking national consciousness...'

Former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan shared a post on social media regarding the opening lesson held in schools on Monday titled 'Defense of the Homeland and Struggle for Independence from Çanakkale to Gaza.' Tantan stated, "Both Çanakkale and Malazgirt are Turkish victories; attempting to stamp an 'ummah' label on Turkish victories is a policy lacking national consciousness."

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Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin had made a statement that drew backlash ahead of the 2024-2025 academic year.

OPENING LESSON: DEFENSE OF THE HOMELAND FROM ÇANAKKALE TO GAZA

Minister Tekin announced that they had issued instructions for classes to begin on Monday with an opening lesson titled 'Defense of the Homeland and Struggle for Independence from Çanakkale to Gaza', stating, "In order to increase our children's awareness against the Israeli oppression that has been continuing before the eyes of the world for nearly a year, we are submitting for your instructions that classes begin on Monday, September 9, in our schools with an opening lesson titled 'Defense of the Homeland and Struggle for Independence from Çanakkale to Gaza.' In this way, we will have both increased our children's consciousness of solidarity with their Palestinian brothers and sisters and created awareness regarding the meaning and importance of the concepts of independence and homeland" he had said.

Former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan reacted to the decision in question.

'BOTH ÇANAKKALE AND MALAZGİRT ARE TURKISH VICTORIES'

In a post on X, Tantan stated, "Attempting to stamp an 'ummah' label on Turkish victories is a policy lacking national consciousness" and noted the following:

"The historical ignorance of the Minister of National Education, who tries to establish a historical link between Çanakkale and Gaza via a circular, will cause our children to be exposed to distorted information. Both Çanakkale and Malazgirt are Turkish victories; attempting to stamp an 'ummah' label on Turkish victories is a policy lacking national consciousness. Was such an application signed when the children of the Turkish nation were fighting and becoming martyrs in Karabakh? What is the reason for someone who ignores the Turkish identity to sit in that seat? Instead of establishing a link between Çanakkale and Gaza, the Minister of National Education should mobilize the resources at his disposal to prevent the hopelessness created in society by injustices that deeply wound the public. In a period where crime and criminals are encouraged and even rewarded, what the Minister of National Education should do is prevent new generations from being negatively affected by this perception and ensure that our children are provided with a contemporary education with a modern understanding. 

'A CHANGE IN MENTALITY IS INEVITABLE'

Let no one who steals the labor of the people and thinks they have escaped punishment through political pressure think that they will escape the crimes they have committed or turned a blind eye to. A change in political mentality is inevitable for Turkey to be saved from this polluted spiral."