Istanbul Governor's School Prayer Room Request Complained to Interior Ministry: 'Parents Don't Send Children to Madrasas!'

A directive from Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, mandating the creation of prayer spaces (mescits) in schools, has ignited a significant debate and led to a formal legal challenge. The governor's office requested that new schools be designed with adequate space for Friday prayers and that existing facilities be adapted for this purpose.

“

All parents send their children to schools affiliated with the ministry, not to madrasas or prayer rooms.

However, the initiative has drawn sharp criticism, with lawyer İsmail Sami Çakmak filing a criminal complaint with the Ministry of Interior. Çakmak argues that the governor's directive violates secularism principles, the Turkish Penal Code concerning incitement to hatred and abuse of office, and fundamental education laws. He contends that public schools are secular institutions and should not be transformed into religious spaces.

Çakmak emphasized that parents send their children to state-affiliated schools, not religious seminaries, and called the governor's actions an overreach of authority. He drew parallels to a past incident involving another governor, Gülistan Doku, suggesting a pattern of inappropriate behavior. The lawyer also criticized the move as religiously misguided, especially when basic necessities like toilet paper are reportedly lacking in some schools.

“

The governor's attempt to turn schools into madrasas is clearly overstepping boundaries.

Furthermore, Çakmak speculated that Governor Gül might be motivated by perceived benefits, referencing instances where public prosecutors in Ankara and Istanbul allegedly opened Quran courses in courthouses and were subsequently promoted. The complaint seeks an investigation into Governor Gül's actions, his punishment, and notification of the outcome.

“

We have never agreed with the tariff policy. In fact, no other country has either. Because we believe there are many other good ways to strengthen our region's economy and improve relations between countries.