Religious group members attempt to disrupt protest against appointment of imams to schools

Photos: İzmir Halkevleri

Click to read the article in Turkish

İzmir People's Houses (Halkevleri) has launched a signature campaign against the protocol that envisages the appointment of imams and preachers as "spiritual counselors" in schools.

The "Environmental Awareness, Protecting My Values Project Collaboration Protocol" (ÇEDES), signed between the Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Presidency of Religious Affairs, had selected İzmir as a "pilot region." The protocol has been criticized for violating the constitutional principle of secularism.

When Halkevleri set up a signature booth at Hatay Market Place in the Konak district, demanding the cancellation of the protocol yesterday, a group of several people attempted to disrupt them.

Halkevleri shared a video of the incident:

Hatay Pazarı'nda açtığımız imza masasını hedef gösteren Menzil Tarikat'ına halk tepki gösterdi.

ÇEDES Protokolü ile okullara tarikat ve cemaatlerin girmesine izin vermeyeceğiz! pic.twitter.com/aXPULdOkI2

— İzmir Halkevleri (@izmirhalkevleri) June 22, 2023

Erdem Engin, a representative of Karşıyaka Halkevi, told bianet that a person from the attacking group identified themselves as members of the "Menzil" group, an Islamic sect based in Adıyaman, southeastern Turkey. He said that when the group of 4-5 people attempted to disrupt their activities by chanting religious slogans (takbir), citizens and shopkeepers in the vicinity reacted.

"According to the protocol between the Provincial Directorate of National Education and the Directorate of Religious Affairs, 842 imams and preachers are appointed to schools," he said. "We have initiated a signature campaign against this protocol. First, we set up a booth in Alsancak, and yesterday we did the same at Hatay Market Place.

"While collecting signatures from citizens at the marketplace, we were also distributing the leaflets we prepared regarding the issue. The campaign received significant attention from citizens.

"However, after a short while, a market vendor started shouting, accusing us of insulting Islam and being enemies of religion. We tried to respond to him, but he didn't listen.

"Soon after, he began chanting takbir, and 4-5 more people gathered around him, joining in the chanting. During the incident, this person identified himself as being from the Karabağlar Menzil sect. Citizens and shopkeepers in the area reacted to them and defended our stand.

"Our signature campaign will continue. Today, we will set up a booth in Bornova." (VC/VK)