TBB statement on 'Sharia' and 'Caliphate': It is a rebellion against the constitutional order! ÇEDES, Infantry School, Yusuf Tekin...

The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has issued a statement reacting to the recent increase in calls for Sharia and the caliphate. Pointing to the Constitution, the TBB stated that these calls are "a rebellion against the Republic."

ARTICLE 14/1 OF THE CONSTITUTION HIGHLIGHTED

The statement reads as follows:

"Developments occurring in succession during the first days of our Republic's new century make it necessary to once again underline the founding values of the Republic and the initial principles and provisions of the Constitution.

It is unacceptable to ignore, under the guise of freedom of expression, the open calls for a caliphate and Sharia made by a segment of the population during a rally held to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and to react to attacks amounting to genocide. For, in accordance with Article 14/1 of the Constitution, none of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Constitution can be exercised in the form of activities aimed at destroying the democratic and secular Republic based on human rights.

The founding philosophy of the Republic is based on the principles of;

- Full independence against imperialism,

- National sovereignty against all forms of personal authority,

- A secular worldview and contemporary civilization guided by reason and science against reactionism,

- Peace at home, peace in the world, while protecting national unity and integrity against all kinds of threats."

ÇEDES, DEMAND FOR SHARIA AT ANITKABIR, YUSUF TEKIN..

While negative developments in the world and in our country show that we must cling more tightly to the principles of our founding philosophy as we enter the second century of our Republic, some actions and rhetoric that completely disregard these principles are concerning for our country.

Examples from the recent period include: the provision of lessons under the name of “values education” to students in their formative years by religious officials who lack pedagogical training within the scope of the ÇEDES project, in a manner incompatible with the Basic Law on National Education No. 1739; the speech made by Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin under the roof of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which aimed to legitimize the presence of religious sect structures in educational institutions under the guise of foundations or associations; the incident on November 10 at the Tuzla Infantry School involving a lieutenant who refused to wear an Atatürk pin despite orders and the subsequent debates; and finally, the calls for Sharia made by insulting our Republic in the spiritual presence of our Ata at Anıtkabir.

"THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY IS A SECULAR AND SOCIAL STATE OF LAW"

As enshrined in Article 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, which cannot even be proposed for amendment, the Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular, and social state of law that is respectful of human rights, loyal to Atatürk's nationalism, and based on the fundamental principles stated in the preamble.

With the awareness that protecting the rule of law and human rights is among the primary reasons for the existence of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, we hereby inform the public that we will continue to fight to protect the founding philosophy of the Republic and Atatürk's principles against all actions and rhetoric contrary to the constitutional order."

News Source: 12punto