Turkish Communists Slam Bilal Erdoğan's Secularism Remarks

The Turkish Communist Movement (TKH) has strongly criticized Bilal Erdoğan, son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his remarks linking secularism to the July 15, 2016, coup attempt. In a written statement, TKH argued that Erdoğan's assertion that "strict secularism" caused the Gülen movement (FETÖ) to emerge is fundamentally flawed and echoes the rhetoric of FETÖ itself.

TKH countered that a strong secular system actually serves as a barrier against politicized Islamist movements like FETÖ. They pointed to the fact that FETÖ launched its coup attempt when secularism weakened, suggesting this proves that Islamism, not secularism, is the political movement hiding behind religion. The movement also accused Erdoğan of attempting to whitewash imperialist powers, NATO, and the US, which they claim are the true instigators and controllers of FETÖ as part of the "Green Crescent project."

“

Bilal Erdoğan's anti-secular words are no different from a typical FETÖ member!

"Secularism is freedom, reactionism is coup-mongering," TKH declared, emphasizing that Erdoğan's claim that secularism is the source of reactionism shows his ignorance. They asserted that political religiosity is designed by imperialism, citing historical alliances with the British in Palestine and Hejaz during a time before secularism and national liberation struggles. TKH concluded that Erdoğan's attack on secularism, by pointing to FETÖ as the perpetrator of the coup, reveals his true anti-secular stance and potentially his obligation to those who fund his civil society organizations.

“

Secularism is freedom, reactionism is coup-mongering