Important call from the Secularism Assembly: We call for a struggle against those who attack Republican values

Stating that secularism is an achievement of the Republic and that they will not allow it to be trampled upon, members of the Secularism Assembly declared, "We will win back the secular Republic for an equal and free country."

Stating that the AKP government does not show the necessary importance and care for Republic Day celebrations, the Secularism Assembly expressed its reaction with the following statement:

"We are in the 100th year of the Republic, which was founded through a great struggle as a result of the war of independence against imperialism.

With the founding of the Republic, great steps were taken in the transition from being an 'ummah' (religious community) to being a people, and from being subjects to being citizens; enlightenment, secularism, and independence were achieved.

The Republic was also a deep-rooted revolution and a great leap forward for women's struggle for equality.

However, we are facing a political power and its supporters that have viewed the Republic as an incidental situation for over 20 years, claiming that 'the hundred-year advertising break is ending,' and that can even cancel the centenary celebrations under various pretexts with the goal of a 'New Turkey,' which means nothing other than counter-revolution by emulating the Ottoman Empire.

All the gains of the Anatolian people, who won their independence and citizenship with the Republic 100 years ago, are being attempted to be usurped today. The counter-revolutionary movement, which has accelerated especially over the last two decades, has largely eliminated the gains of the Republic.

Cults that are growing stronger and becoming holding companies every day are settling over society like a great darkness by occupying all state institutions, and the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), established as a Republican institution, is operating like the Office of the Sheikh ul-Islam, trampling on the constitutional principle of secularism.

The unity of law established with the Republic is being dismantled, and attempts are being made to put Sharia provisions into effect instead of secular law.

The right to education of the children of the working class, who gained the right to secular and scientific education with the Republic, is being usurped; the right of young people to housing is being destroyed in the hands of sects and cults; and within the framework of protocols made with cults operating under the name of associations and foundations, education is moving away from secularism and science every day, becoming reactionary in order to 'raise religious and vengeful generations.'

While the victory won 100 years ago was against occupiers and imperialism, today all of our country's resources, including its mines, lands, water, and forests, have been opened to the plunder of imperialists through military and commercial agreements. As Turkey is brought under the yoke of imperialism and reactionism, society is being forced to remain silent and is being suppressed through cults, sects, and religionization. That is why winning back secularism is essential for the future of the Republic and the people.

The gains of the Republic, especially secularism and independence, which have been eroded for years, are intended to be completely erased from these lands with a new constitution in the 100th year of 1923. As the Secularism Assembly, we once again state that we will not allow this and that we will escalate our struggle against the liquidation of secularism through a new constitution.

The political power and its supporters, who think they have gained the strength to erase the gains of the Republic by leaning on imperialism, its collaborators, and reactionaries, should know this: The accumulation and will that won the victory against occupation, the sultanate, and reactionism 100 years ago, and which took root with the Republic, has the power to win back the secular Republic for an equal and free country!

We salute with respect and gratitude the will that realized the founding of the Republic, the pioneers of this will, and our people who fought the War of Independence. On its 100th anniversary, we call on all citizens to claim the struggle for secularism against those who attack the values of the Republic.

Long live the Republic on its 100th anniversary! Long live secularism!

October 28, 2023"

News Source: 12punto