‘Economic crisis, poverty push people to religious cults’ courses, dorms in Turkey’

Click to read the article in Turkish

Addressing a Parliamentary question to Vice President Fuat Oktay, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Oya Ersoy has raised concerns about the sexual abuse of seven children in Erzurum province.

"We will not leave children in the hands of religionist cults and sects", Ersoy has said and recalled that seven children aged 10-11 were sexually abused by an inspector on duty at the Hacı Bahattin Evgi boys' boarding Quran course in central Palandöken district in Erzurum. The related Quran course is reportedly affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs.

Underlining that the lack of inspections in such dorms and courses leads to an increase in the number of abuse cases, Ersoy has said that these institutions must be closed. Noting that "economic crisis and poverty push citizens to the courses and dorms of religious cults," Ersoy has stressed that a budget must be allocated to public, secular and scientific education.

Ersoy has asked Oktay the following questions:

• Several children were abused by men in boarding Quran courses. As the Vice President, have you given any instructions to close these courses for this reason?
• Do you think that leaving such institutions that offer religious education especially to small children to the responsibility of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the ensuing lack of inspections cause such incidents of abuse?
• How many children have so far been abused at the courses that give religious education?

(AÖ/SD)