Well-known Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen voiced strong support for education in mother tongue, in reference to allowing use of Kurdish in education, and said basic human rights and freedom could not be object of any political bargaining as they are the natural rights of human beings.
Speaking to Rudaw, a newspaper in northern Iraq’s Arbil, Gülen touched upon a wide array of issues ranging from the ongoing settlement process aimed at ending the decades-old Kurdish dispute to the regional developments.
Human rights and freedom, Gülen said, are natural rights that nobody has the authority to grant those rights to others as favors. “Every human being, including prophets, are equal because of the fact that they were created by God as human beings. Without recognition of this fact, there would be no possibility for state of justice or a legal system.”
He asserted that recognition of use of mother tongue in education as a principle is indicative of a state’s fair treatment of its citizens.
He spoke on the necessity of economic and social investment in some regions, where Kurds form the majority of the population, to increase the level of literacy and education which are the primary causes of underdevelopment.
He urged state officials to bolster ties between eastern and western regions of the country through various socio-economic projects in a move to enhance national unity.
Regarding the ongoing peace settlement launched by government in a move to find a political solution to the decades-old Kurdish conflict, Gülen called on both sides to adopt a reconciliatory tone with a great sensitivity to avoid inflammatory remarks in a bid to not to offend other side in the fragile process.
He also spoke on the Turkish schools in northern Iraq, highlighting the warm welcome of the locals towards schools.
“As far as I follow, Turkish schools in northern Iraq not only work to deepen the integration of locals with the world, but also to enrich local culture. Activities to promote Kurdish language in the region eloquently illustrates that any kind of ideological activity is alien to the founding philosophy of those schools,” Gülen said in response to criticism raised by some Kurdish nationalists that schools promote cultural assimilation of Kurds.
The past twenty years have removed any kind of doubts over the presence of schools in the northern Iraq as Kurds embraced them in cementing ties of brotherhood with Turks, Gülen said.
Gülen insisted that Turkey not only should grant every rights to its Kurdish citizens, such as recognition of use of Kurdish in education, but also should help other Kurds who are suffering in various parts of the world.
According to him, Turkey should appear as representative of Kurds who face legal, political, ethnic and religious difficulties across the world and should defend their rights at the UN and in other international organizations.
Commenting on Gezi protests which broke out after a group of enviromentalists who had camped at the Gezi Park in late May, oppossing government's redevelopment plan at the park, faced brutal police response, Gülen voices his objection against calling protesters as chapulers (looters).
This criticism comes after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeteadly calls anti-government protesters as looters.
In an indirect reference to labeling of protesters by the prime minister, Gülen dismissed such approach, saying that some among those "looters" one day may well serve to their country in a dignified way.
Published on Today's Zaman, 24 June 2013, Monday
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Speaking to Rudaw, a newspaper in northern Iraq’s Arbil, Gülen touched upon a wide array of issues ranging from the ongoing settlement process aimed at ending the decades-old Kurdish dispute to the regional developments.
Human rights and freedom, Gülen said, are natural rights that nobody has the authority to grant those rights to others as favors. “Every human being, including prophets, are equal because of the fact that they were created by God as human beings. Without recognition of this fact, there would be no possibility for state of justice or a legal system.”
He asserted that recognition of use of mother tongue in education as a principle is indicative of a state’s fair treatment of its citizens.
He spoke on the necessity of economic and social investment in some regions, where Kurds form the majority of the population, to increase the level of literacy and education which are the primary causes of underdevelopment.
He urged state officials to bolster ties between eastern and western regions of the country through various socio-economic projects in a move to enhance national unity.
Regarding the ongoing peace settlement launched by government in a move to find a political solution to the decades-old Kurdish conflict, Gülen called on both sides to adopt a reconciliatory tone with a great sensitivity to avoid inflammatory remarks in a bid to not to offend other side in the fragile process.
He also spoke on the Turkish schools in northern Iraq, highlighting the warm welcome of the locals towards schools.
“As far as I follow, Turkish schools in northern Iraq not only work to deepen the integration of locals with the world, but also to enrich local culture. Activities to promote Kurdish language in the region eloquently illustrates that any kind of ideological activity is alien to the founding philosophy of those schools,” Gülen said in response to criticism raised by some Kurdish nationalists that schools promote cultural assimilation of Kurds.
The past twenty years have removed any kind of doubts over the presence of schools in the northern Iraq as Kurds embraced them in cementing ties of brotherhood with Turks, Gülen said.
Gülen insisted that Turkey not only should grant every rights to its Kurdish citizens, such as recognition of use of Kurdish in education, but also should help other Kurds who are suffering in various parts of the world.
According to him, Turkey should appear as representative of Kurds who face legal, political, ethnic and religious difficulties across the world and should defend their rights at the UN and in other international organizations.
Commenting on Gezi protests which broke out after a group of enviromentalists who had camped at the Gezi Park in late May, oppossing government's redevelopment plan at the park, faced brutal police response, Gülen voices his objection against calling protesters as chapulers (looters).
This criticism comes after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeteadly calls anti-government protesters as looters.
In an indirect reference to labeling of protesters by the prime minister, Gülen dismissed such approach, saying that some among those "looters" one day may well serve to their country in a dignified way.
Published on Today's Zaman, 24 June 2013, Monday
Related Articles: