Yusuf Tekin defends decision to close nurseries: 'LGBT propaganda is being conducted'

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, in a statement made following the growing controversy over municipal nurseries, said, "In some municipal nurseries, LGBT propaganda is being conducted for children, and activities encouraging homosexuality are being organized. This is our red line, and the necessary action will be taken."

These allegations by Minister Tekin were brought to the agenda by journalist Fuat Uğur on the program "Taksim Meydanı with Gürkan Hacır", broadcast on TV100. Uğur shared the details of his conversation with Tekin and conveyed the allegations to the public.

CLOSURE INSTRUCTION FROM THE MINISTRY

The Ministry of National Education sent a letter to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change with the aim of terminating the operations of municipal nurseries and preventing the opening of new ones. In this letter, it was stated that some municipal nurseries were operating in violation of the Law on Private Educational Institutions No. 5580 and were providing unauthorized preschool education.

The letter also pointed out that the Constitutional Court had annulled the authority of municipalities to open preschool educational institutions in 2007, stating that the current activities of municipalities should be halted and the opening of new nurseries should be prevented.

REACTION FROM THE OPPOSITION

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reacted harshly to the decision. Opposition representatives argued that the decision was political and an attempt to hinder public services.