Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized a manifesto signed by 168 Turkish intellectuals in which they warn of risks to the secular character of the Turkish state, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported, BTA reported.
The manifesto was published on Tuesday and was signed by 168 Turkish writers, artists, scholars, journalists and trade union representatives. It is titled “We Defend Secularism Together” and was opened for signature online on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the Turkish Civil Code.
In the document, the signatories state that Turkey is under a “reactionary, pro-Sharia siege“ and is under pressure to be “Talibanized“.
They accuse the Turkish government of weakening secular education, the secular legal order and secular public life, and of treating defenders of the secular republic as criminals.
In response to a meeting with the governors of Turkey's 81 districts, Erdogan said he would not allow society to be polarized during the holy month of Ramadan.
He told the meeting that Turkey “has no problem with secularism“ and accused the signatories of the manifesto of trying to sow division during Ramadan.
Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party have often been accused of expanding the influence of religion in schools and public institutions since coming to power in 2002.
Among the initial signatories to the manifesto are economist Korkut Boratav, historian Taner Timur, former MP Ilhan Cihaner, writer Ayşe Kulin, actress Mujde Ar and journalist Timur Soykan.
The manifesto was supported online by thousands of people.