Pro-government columnist reacts to Yusuf Tekin's targeting of secularism: 'What is the benefit?'

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin's remarks targeting secularism have dominated the agenda. Speaking at the AKP's congress in Batman, Tekin claimed that secularism meant "locking the doors of mosques, turning mosques into stables, and banning citizens from learning the Quran."

Following Tekin's scandalous statements, the CHP filed a criminal complaint, while Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan, known for his proximity to the government, asked, "What is the benefit?"

"In this current environment where both President Erdoğan and MHP leader Bahçeli constantly emphasize the need to 'keep the internal front strong,' what is the benefit to anyone of bringing these issues to the agenda?" asked Ahmet Hakan, adding, "In these days when it is emphasized that keeping the internal front strong is very important, there is countless benefit in Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin being a bit more careful."

The relevant section from Hakan's column titled 'Internal front warning to Yusuf Tekin' is as follows:

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, at his party's Batman Provincial Congress...

Made a speech containing these headings:

- Practices in the 1940s.

- Allegations regarding mosques being turned into stables.

- Theses that reading the Quran was banned.

- Problems in the understanding of secularism.

Each of these are highly controversial issues.

Each of these are never-ending debates.

In this environment where both President Erdoğan and MHP leader Bahçeli constantly emphasize the need to "keep the internal front strong"...

What is the benefit to anyone of bringing these issues to the agenda?

- By bringing the most controversial issues of recent history to the agenda out of the blue.

- By going over controversial issues with contentious and assertive inferences.

- By loudly proclaiming theses that will fuel division.

- By making speeches that will erode the spirit of being one, being large, and being vibrant.

How will we keep our internal front strong?

In these days when it is emphasized that keeping the internal front strong is very important...

There is countless benefit in Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin being a bit more careful.

News Source: 12punto