Army does not want high school graduates from religious schools enrolled in state universities.

Ankara (AsiaNews) – After just 18 hours of discussion and an overwhelming 254 out of 258 votes in favor, Turkish Parliament passed amendments to laws on religious education. The government's decision risks jeopardizing harmony between the State and its military forces after top army officials expressed their opposition, saying it goes "against the Turkey's secular status."

The new law, once in full force, will allow high school graduates of Islamic religious schools and preachers in Mosques to enroll in university department's to earn degrees to qualify for government positions.

Until now, all high school graduates who had passed entry exams could enroll in university, except those from private theologically-orientated secondary educational institutions.

The reform has raised the eyebrows of those who defend the country's secular status, particularly the military. The Turkish press, intellectuals and university presidents, who all in accord with military opinion, have criticized the new law, saying the parliamentary decision threatens the "Turkish Republic's principles of secularity".  

Similar criticism has come from government opposition leaders who say the amendment is capable of producing "deep division within society". 

The new law will also allow for a reform of university teaching, as the government move will tend to remove military control over universities and instruction in general. Many analysts believe that the Turkish army will not give up so easily its dominance over the country's higher education institutions –especially after having lost nearly all its control over Turkey's judicial system and national security council.

In 1997 military officials imposed a set of restrictions on religious education after successfully ousting the first-ever pro-Islamic head of state in Turkey's secular history.

In Turkey, the Koran has been taught in schools under state supervision and it is the government who assigns Muslim imams and preachers to mosques while even setting the themes and topics of their Friday prayer-day sermons. (P.B.)

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• islam
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