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Turkish Govt Pushes Islamic Education Bill
Turkeyâs Islamic-rooted government on Monday brushed aside strong criticism from the countryâs staunchly secular military, deciding to send a draft bill over religious high schools to parliament for approval. The move by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoganâs government is likely to further anger the military, which last week warned that proposals that would make it easier for graduates of religious high schools to study at universities violated the countryâs secular principles. "Turkey is a democratic state and the constitution clearly empowers the parliament to decide on this issue," Government spokesman Cemil Cicek told a news conference after a Cabinet meeting. "Today, the parliament will decide on this issue and everyone should respect its will, because it is the place representing the will of the nation." The parliament is expected to debate the bill as early as Wednesday. However, pro-secular President Ahmet Necdet Sezer might veto the bill if it is passed by the parliament, news reports speculated on Monday. Cicek, meanwhile, issued a thinly veiled warning to the military, which forced Turkeyâs first Islamic government out of power in 1997 and staged three coups, the last in 1980. "Everyone should refrain from attitudes that could cast a shadow over the democratic view of Turkey," Cicek said, noting the nationâs aspirations to join the European Union. Secular critics claim the government is seeking to raise the profile of Islam in this predominantly Muslim but strictly secular country. The government says the proposals, which were approved by a parliamentary committee last week, would ease hurdles for graduates of a number of vocational schools who want to enter university. But the secular establishment, led by the military, is wary that the proposals are aimed at high schools that train Islamic preachers and chaplains and are designed to allow their graduates to study at universities and become lawyers, teachers, or governors and hold other key state posts. Erdogan strongly denies that his party seeks any Islamic agenda. Posted by: TS(vice girl) 2004-05-10 |
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