Directive for prayer rooms in schools
The requirement to open prayer rooms in schools in Istanbul has been announced through an official letter sent by the Governor's Office to the district governorships of 39 districts and public institutions.
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The Istanbul Governor's Office has issued a comprehensive directive for the opening of prayer rooms in schools to ensure that students and educational staff can fulfill their religious beliefs appropriately. The letter, bearing the signature of Governor Davut Gül, was transmitted to the district governorships in 39 districts and all relevant public institutions.
The message emphasized that meeting the worship needs of school communities in accordance with social and spiritual values is an integral part of the educational process. The letter further stated that it is a priority for beliefs and worship to be practiced in safe and suitable conditions.
To prevent disruptions to education, the aim is for students to use their class hours more efficiently. In this regard, citing the regulations of the Ministry of National Education, it was announced that students would be provided with the opportunity to perform their worship safely within schools. The statement requested that, particularly for collective worship such as Friday prayers, prayer room areas suitable to physical conditions be established within school premises so that students do not need to leave school grounds.
It was noted that in the projects for schools planned to be built, prayer rooms of sufficient capacity will be allocated. For existing buildings currently in use, it was requested that suitable areas be converted to serve as Friday prayer rooms, provided that technical and spatial facilities allow.