Sezer Insisted, Regulations Will Be Withdrawn

The Religious Affairs Directorate announced that it would amend the controversial regulations on Koran courses. The regulations that aroused public reaction is being withdrawn upon the request of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer that, “I understand your good will. However, the conjuncture is not suitable for that. Please withdraw it.” The government decided to modify the regulations on Koran courses, which caused reactions. The recommendation of President Sezer, who met the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate and the Minister Responsible for Religious Affairs separately, became influential on this decision of the government. Mehmet Gormez, the Deputy Religious Affairs Director, said that the whole body of regulations would be amended and that, “The regulations were misunderstood. We do not want the issue to be discussed politically.” A comprehensive announcement will be made on the issue today. Sezer had met Alaattin Dincer, the Chairman of education trade union Egitim-Sen and received the report on the issue prepared by teaching community and told Dincer that he had some worries about the issue too. On Tuesday Sezer met Religious Affairs Director Ali Bardakoglu in the Cankaya (Presidential) Kiosk at 11.30 and told him about his concerns. Following his meeting with Sezer, Bardakoglu met Mehmet Aydin, State Minister responsible for religious affairs. Subsequently, Aydin briefed Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan about the issue and they embraced the idea of pulling the regulations back. Then Aydin went to the Cankaya Kiosk to meet Sezer, as previously planned, at 14.30. Sezer also warned him that the regulations in question would not be useful for the nation and country and drew attention to the unease in different sections of the state on the issue. Sezer reportedly told Bardakoglu and Aydin that there were vast benefits in pulling the regulations back. When Bardakoglu said that the real objective of those regulations was to control arbitrary education on Koran, Sezer responded, “I understand your point. I also receive reports on the issue. However the climate is not appropriate for such a practice at the moment. I understand from the reports that there is an awful picture facing us with regard to this issue. However this move will be evaluated as a political one, which would give way to further difficulties. Please withdraw it.” Aydin said that they would not insist on the issue and would withdraw the regulations. The issue was also raised in the Cabinet meeting on Monday. Erdogan said that he did not know much about the regulations but, “As far as I see, it is a rather transparent arrangement to bring about a control mechanism. I do not understand the reason why media is putting so much emphasis on this. In fact it should be supported.”�