'Ramadan circular' in court: Council of State requests defense from Ministry of National Education

Discussions regarding the Ministry of National Education's (MEB) "Ramadan circular" have been moved to the judiciary. The 8th Chamber of the Council of State has requested a defense from the ministry within the scope of the lawsuit filed.

Following reactions to the circular, various institutions and political organizations, primarily the Atatürkist Thought Association (ADD), the Secularism Assembly, the Left Party (SOL Parti), and the Communist Movement of Turkey (TKH), had filed criminal complaints against Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin on the grounds of "anti-secular decisions and practices."

During this process, some parents also took legal action. Two parents who are members of the Secularism Assembly filed a lawsuit at the Council of State on March 4, requesting a stay of execution and the cancellation of the circular. The petition for the lawsuit argued that the circular in question is contrary to the constitution, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Constitutional Court (AYM), as well as international conventions.

The 8th Chamber of the Council of State ruled that the parents have the standing to file the lawsuit. In line with the opinion of the rapporteur judge, it was decided that the request for a stay of execution would be evaluated after the ministry's defense is received.

In this context, the chamber requested a defense from the Ministry of National Education on March 12 and set the deadline for the defense at five days.

News Source: 12punto