Erdoğan reacts to 'secularism' declaration: 'We will not bow to the delusions of a rabid mob'

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reacted to the 'We Defend Secularism Together' text, which was published with the signatures of 168 individuals, including writers, academics, artists, journalists, and representatives of professional organizations.

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Erdoğan reacts to 'secularism' declaration: 'We will not bow to the delusions of a rabid mob'

Erdoğan stated, "We will never deviate from what we know to be right, without paying heed to the delusions of a rabid mob that cannot tolerate our nation living its faith freely, even though there is no debate on secularism in Turkey and areas of freedom have not been restricted in any way. We will not bow to those who seek to polarize our people during the holy month of Ramadan with the declarations they publish."

A group of 168 writers, artists, academics, journalists, and professional organization representatives—including names such as Korkut Boratav, Oğuzhan Müftüoğlu, Hayri Kozanoğlu, Merdan Yanardağ, İlhan Cihaner, Melike Demirağ, Ayşe Kulin, Müjde Ar, Şükrü Erbaş, Rutkay Aziz, Canan Güllü, and Timur Soykan—penned a text titled "We Defend Secularism Together," stating, "The political Islamist regime is dragging Turkey step by step into the reactionary quagmire of the Middle East by clinging to the rope of the US and Trump. Defending secularism is not a crime. We are defending secularism together; we reject Sharia-based impositions!"

AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, speaking at an event where he met with the governors of 81 provinces at the Presidential Complex, reacted to the declaration in question and said the following:

"We will ensure that our children, who are the guarantee of our future, are aware of these blessed days, and we will ensure they benefit from this climate of abundance through various events we will organize in our schools. We will never deviate from what we know to be right, without paying heed to the delusions of a rabid mob that cannot tolerate our nation living its faith freely, even though there has been no interference in their own lifestyles for 23 years and there is no debate on secularism in Turkey. We will not bow to those who want to cast a shadow over the Ramadan joy of 86 million people with the declarations they publish, nor will we allow them to sow discord among our nation or polarize our people during Ramadan, the month of unity and brotherhood."

News Source: 12punto