Religious sect dormitory sealed in Çiğli: 'This neighborhood is ours, we will not leave it to the sects'

In the Güzeltepe neighborhood of İzmir's Çiğli district, following allegations that the Süleymancılar sect intended to open a dormitory, neighborhood residents held a march in front of the building on the anniversary of the Sivas Massacre, chanting slogans such as "We do not want sects in our neighborhood." 

Speaking at the march organized by the Çiğli People's Representatives Assembly (ÇHTM), lawyer Emel Diril said, "Sects with extensive criminal records are attempting to open dormitories in our neighborhood, and in İzmir's Karabağlar district, they are trying to open illegal Quran courses on park land. Those who are dragging our country into darkness today, those who are inflicting religious communities and sects upon our children, continue to fuel religious reactionism by feeding on the pain and slaughter we were made to endure in '93," she said. 

According to the report in BirGün Ege; Diril stated, "We will not allow the communities protected and coddled by the government to drown our children and youth in darkness. We call out to the anti-woman, anti-child sects that exploit poverty by entering our neighborhoods and schools: These neighborhoods, these cities, this country are ours. We will drive the sects out of our neighborhoods and this country together," she expressed. 

"IT WILL BE A DORMITORY BELONGING TO THE SÜLEYMANCILAR SECT"

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Ebru Oral said, "We gathered here today because we do not want the sect dormitory that is planned to be opened in our neighborhood. When the construction of this building began, many rumors emerged. It was said that this would be a KYK (Higher Education Credit and Hostels Institution) dormitory. Another rumor was that it would be a municipal facility, and now, as the construction is almost finished, we learn that this will be a dormitory belonging to the Süleymancılar sect. We do not want this mentality that is hostile to children, women, and enlightenment in our neighborhood. Because in our neighborhood's culture, women are laborers; they work and support their households. They want to organize their poisonous thoughts in our neighborhood, and we will not allow this. We call on everyone to join this struggle so that this dormitory is not opened. The action we took today is just a beginning; these actions will continue. Our word is very clear: we do not want this reactionary, anti-human, banned organization in our neighborhood. This neighborhood is ours, we will not leave it to the sects," she said.

Neighborhood residents sealed the door of the planned dormitory.

The ÇHTM and the Güzeltepe Neighborhood Assembly stated that they would follow the process and would not give up the struggle.