'Secularism' debate moves to Parliament: Tension between CHP and AKP deputy group chairs over Secularism Declaration and profiling

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdağ to discuss the draft law on amendments to the National Parks Law and certain other laws, as well as Decree-Law No. 375. Deputy group chairs took the floor in the General Assembly to make assessments regarding the agenda.

New Way Group Chair Mehmet Emin Ekmen addressed the statements by Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç regarding regulations on lawyer meetings, saying, "Of course, it is an irony that could only happen on a Turkish scale for a Minister to refer to ECHR rulings while restricting the right to defense, especially when he himself was a member of the judiciary in the Istanbul jurisdiction and did not implement European Court of Human Rights and Constitutional Court rulings during that time. The Minister referred to ECHR rulings while evaluating the issue of restricting the right to defense."

"We are facing a Minister of Justice who is trying to eliminate the right to defense"

DEM Party Deputy Group Chair Sezai Temelli stated that Turkey is in the top 5 whenever there is lawlessness or injustice, saying, "We are in the top 5 in this regard as well. Most recently, Alican Uludağ was detained and arrested for practicing journalism. In a country where practicing journalism is a crime, it is impossible to talk about democracy, peace, or social peace."

Temelli also criticized Gürlek's statements regarding regulations on lawyers, saying, "Today, the greatest injustice in this country actually stems from pre-trial detention. While there are so many grievances due to this issue, we are facing a Minister of Justice who is trying to eliminate the right of lawyers to meet with their clients, that is, the right to defense, in order to reinforce this grievance."

Tekin is striving to inject his ideological obsessions into our children

CHP Deputy Group Chair Murat Emir said that Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin is the worst Minister of National Education ever, stating, "Yusuf Tekin has opened national education and classrooms to sects and religious communities to the fullest extent, and he is trying to manage national education with an archaic mindset. He is striving to inject the ideological obsessions behind his own mind into our children, and most recently, he is attempting to label children—based on whether they fast or not, whether they have iftar when they go home, whether their mother fasts or not. Do not do this through our children, do not commit this betrayal, do not label children; this has nothing to do with religion, piety, or religious education."

Usta: We cannot make sense of their intolerance toward our enthusiasm

AKP Deputy Group Chair Leyla Şahin Usta reacted to the Secularism Declaration signed by 168 intellectuals. Usta said, "These agendas belong to the old Turkey. I want to specifically state that these published declarations are not on Turkey's agenda or the public's agenda. We are in the blessed month of Ramadan. There is no need to be afraid of our children saying 'Allah', 'Quran', 'Kaaba', or 'Prophet', and there is no need for such declarations. We cannot make sense of the intolerance shown by those who do not speak up when people freely do everything related to Christmas, yet show intolerance toward our children freely welcoming Ramadan, experiencing this excitement, refreshing our faith, and our enthusiasm during the month of Ramadan."

"Get well soon to those having a 'secular attack'"

Usta continued her words as follows: "We clearly and plainly state that all the actions taken by our Minister are very correct and proper, and we stand behind him all the way. Turkey is no longer the old Turkey; in the past, secularism declarations would be read in Turkey and some would fall into line, but such a Turkey no longer exists. Turkey is a Turkey that has emerged with its faith, existence, and civilization, and aims to raise its youth and generations with its own faith. It would be good for you to get used to this. I think what you are doing is a 'secular attack', and I say get well soon to those having this secular attack."

Upon Şahin Usta's speech, CHP's Emir requested the floor and said, "Mr. Yusuf Tekin and Ms. Leyla Şahin Usta are masters at starting cheap polemics. No one here is saying anything about religion or religious education, and they wouldn't, but I present you to the conscience of the General Assembly and our nation. Giving small children forms and checklists saying 'I went home', 'I went', 'I prayed', 'I prayed', 'I had iftar', 'I had', 'I woke up for suhoor', 'I woke up', 'Photograph these, bring them, bring these forms to us' is profiling children and families. Doing this is wrong, it does not fit the understanding of education, it is not pedagogical, and it is discriminatory; this is our objection. Otherwise, you are eager for other things through a cheap debate, and we are well aware of this."

"When 'profiling' is mentioned, the February 28 mentality comes to mind"

Taking the floor again, Şahin Usta said to Emir, "When 'profiling' is mentioned, the mentality of the February 28 period, which was best at profiling, comes to our minds. Of course, you are the ones who know these best."

The Ministry is neck-deep in politics

Emir, taking the floor again regarding Şahin Usta's response to profiling, said: "Ms. Usta, of course, is reading one of the prepared lists and prepared speeches in front of her. We are saying something else, Ms. Usta, listen and pay attention. There is a Civil Servants Law, what you are saying is something else. A man was a judge, he took off his robe, and he entered politics. This is something else, but we are saying how political the current Deputy Director of National Education is and that the Ministry of National Education is neck-deep in politics. Answer this, if you can."

News Source: 12punto