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Protest by TKH: "We are raising the flag of secularism"

The Youth wing of the Communist Movement of Turkey (TKH) held a 'Secularism is Freedom' protest at Istanbul University. In the statement made during the action, they declared, "This order, which leaves the youth without a future in a spiral of AKP, reactionism, and capitalism, is theirs, but this country is ours!"

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The Youth wing of the Communist Movement of Turkey held a 'Secularism is Freedom' protest today in front of the Istanbul University Main Campus.

In its press statement, the TKH emphasized the need for the youth to escalate the struggle for secularism and socialism against the increasing reactionism in universities.

"THE CALIPHATE IS BEING GLORIFIED AND THE REPUBLIC IS BEING CURSED IN HALLS AND FROM PODIUMS"

The press statement, titled "We are raising the struggle for secularism against the reactionary policies implemented step-by-step by the twenty-two-year AKP government," included the following remarks:

"Unwritten Sharia provisions have recently been put into effect in our country: Sharia slogans are being chanted in courthouse corridors; people who speak out and oppose Sharia are being detained. The caliphate is being glorified and the Republic is being cursed in halls and from podiums. Today, the abolition of secularism under the guise of constitutional amendment is being brought to the agenda; protocols are being openly signed with religious sects and communities in high schools and universities, and there is an attempt to abolish co-education.

The country is being openly subjected to the hegemony of reactionism. During its twenty-two years in power, the AKP has opened hundreds of Imam-Hatip high schools, extended Imam-Hatip education down to middle school, and opened Quran courses for children, exposing them to religious education at a young age.

One of the latest projects, the ÇEDES project, has been one of the final points of these reactionary steps. Now, imams can enter schools.

Religious education is being increased in high school curricula under different names, and the theory of evolution, a very fundamental theory, is being taught as the 'theory of creation'.

"THIS SYSTEM HAS CLEARLY REVEALED ITS ANTI-SECULAR CHARACTER"

The situation is no different in universities. Academic staff positions are filled with loyalists; professors are debating child marriage and co-education; our universities are being transformed into 'külliyes' (religious complexes). Only fascist and reactionary elements are allowed to hold events at universities. While students are not allowed into their own schools, rectors appear before us with the lie of a 'university without walls' to create space for fascists and reactionaries.

Universities are now equipped with rectors appointed by the AKP and rectors who kiss the hands of sect and community leaders. This mentality, which views students as mere tools to be brainwashed or as customers, has clearly revealed this system's anti-secular character.

University and high school youth have been the 'exposed' side throughout this entire process. Youth are either driven to suicide in religious sect dormitories or are subjected to abuse. Sects and communities, each of which is a holding owner and is funded, force youth to rely on their dormitories, leaving them without options. The youth have been left to face a massive disaster within this order.

Today, it is essential to escalate the struggle for secularism in the face of all these reactionary steps and disasters we have listed.

"WE ARE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES TO CARRY THE FIGHT FOR SECULARISM INTO THE FUTURE"

Secularism provides the guarantee of our citizenship in the face of all these problems. It gives us the right to stand directly against those who see us as subjects rather than citizens. For university and high school youth, it provides the guarantee of free, scientific, free, and equal education.

We call on everyone who stands for equality, freedom, science, and enlightenment to support the call of TKH Youth and Socialist High Schoolers for 'Secularism is Freedom'. We are not limiting ourselves to our protest in Beyazıt today; we are rolling up our sleeves to carry the fight for secularism into the future.

As university and high school youth, we are taking our freedom into our own hands and placing the struggle for secularism at the forefront against the reign of reactionism and darkness; because 'Secularism is Freedom!'