A new kind of ’Islamic rooted’ candidate
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Safak Timur
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 29, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - People know him as an out-of-the-ordinary Islamic scholar, as he does not hesitate to speak the truth in many TV programs on Islam. Zekeriya Beyaz, however, is now in the world of politics as part of a social-democratic party, the Democratic Left Party, or DSP, and will run for Istanbul’s Esenler district.
"Neither the headscarf, trousers, nor underpants are sacredÉ If it would cover something, the most sacred thing would be underpants then," Beyaz once said on a TV program in a debate about the wearing of headscarves, a long-running contentious issue in Turkey. Beyaz, however, does not want to associate his religious identity with politics, despite being an Islamic scholar and having worked as an imam and mufti for years.
"Religion and politics should be separate. It will hurt me to demand votes by using my religious identity. What religion is to me would be in danger then. I have started feeling uncomfortable going to mosques as people may think I am there for votes," said Beyaz, the former dean of the Marmara University Divinity School. Beyaz also hesitated in answering questions about the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, or other parties. "We are not doing Ankara politics now. We are doing Esenler politics," he said.
As to his reason for entering politics, Beyaz said the problems of Esenler had increased too much lately and he was now able to work in politics as he had retired from being a public officer. Living in Esenler for 30 years, Beyaz said he knew the district very well. Having a history dating back to Byzantine times, the Greeks are the oldest residents of the region. Currently, the city has a population of more than 500,000 and it is a district that receives migrants from all around the country. As it is in the center of Istanbul, Esenler does not have any industrial zones within its borders, however, the Esenler Bus Terminal is within the district’s boundaries.
Beyaz cited the bus terminal and similar issues as one of the strongest reasons he should be elected. "Esenler is a district that has been robbed," Beyaz said to describe the city and used the bus terminal as a striking example. The bus terminal is officially within the borders of Esenler district, but all the tax income received by the terminal goes to the a nearby district, Bayrampaşa municipality, Beyaz said, adding that this deprived Esenler of a major source of income.
Esenler lacks basic facilities
Esenler does not have social facilities for people’s benefit, such as parks, a rest home for elderly residents, a shelter for women, or even a public lavatory, Beyaz said, despite its central location in Istanbul. The municipality building of the district is rented and the city does not have police station building of its own, he said.
Beyaz also criticized the location of Yıldız Technical University in the former Davutpaşa Barracks.
"We would say welcome to the university. But while Esenler does not have a police station of its own or even a building for its local governor, you cannot allocate that amount of space to a university," Beyaz said.
"We are going to save Esenler’s soil from occupation," Beyaz said, "We will use democratic methods. We will make Esenler the issue of Turkey."
"Religion and politics should be separate. It will hurt me to demand votes by using my religious identity. What religion is to me would be in danger then. I have started feeling uncomfortable going to mosques as people may think I am there for votes," said Beyaz, the former dean of the Marmara University Divinity School. Beyaz also hesitated in answering questions about the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, or other parties. "We are not doing Ankara politics now. We are doing Esenler politics," he said.
As to his reason for entering politics, Beyaz said the problems of Esenler had increased too much lately and he was now able to work in politics as he had retired from being a public officer. Living in Esenler for 30 years, Beyaz said he knew the district very well. Having a history dating back to Byzantine times, the Greeks are the oldest residents of the region. Currently, the city has a population of more than 500,000 and it is a district that receives migrants from all around the country. As it is in the center of Istanbul, Esenler does not have any industrial zones within its borders, however, the Esenler Bus Terminal is within the district’s boundaries.
Beyaz cited the bus terminal and similar issues as one of the strongest reasons he should be elected. "Esenler is a district that has been robbed," Beyaz said to describe the city and used the bus terminal as a striking example. The bus terminal is officially within the borders of Esenler district, but all the tax income received by the terminal goes to the a nearby district, Bayrampaşa municipality, Beyaz said, adding that this deprived Esenler of a major source of income.
Esenler lacks basic facilities
Esenler does not have social facilities for people’s benefit, such as parks, a rest home for elderly residents, a shelter for women, or even a public lavatory, Beyaz said, despite its central location in Istanbul. The municipality building of the district is rented and the city does not have police station building of its own, he said.
Beyaz also criticized the location of Yıldız Technical University in the former Davutpaşa Barracks.
"We would say welcome to the university. But while Esenler does not have a police station of its own or even a building for its local governor, you cannot allocate that amount of space to a university," Beyaz said.
"We are going to save Esenler’s soil from occupation," Beyaz said, "We will use democratic methods. We will make Esenler the issue of Turkey."