The textbook is called “Fundamentals of Islam’s Religious Beliefs.” Yet in the West, all the learned analysts assume that armed jihad is not among the fundamentals of Islam’s religious beliefs. Maybe Max Abrahms and Will McCants and Graeme Wood and the rest can go over to Turkey and explain to Erdogan and the authors of this textbook how they are misunderstanding Islam.
“12th grade Turkish public school textbook promotes armed jihad,” by Abdullah Bozkurt, Nordic Monitor, July 25, 2022:
The 12th grade religious course book used in public schools in Turkey promotes armed jihad, ignoring the abuse of the jihad concept by violent terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The textbook reflects the prevailing ideology of the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been governing the NATO member country for the last 20 years.
The 2019 edition, authored by Abdullah Açık, Veli Karataş and Mustafa Yılmaz, was produced by the government printing office in two volumes and distributed under the title “Fundamentals of Islam’s Religious Beliefs.”
The book emphasizes that armed jihad is obligatory for all Muslims and notes that “Today, the concept of jihad is associated with bad examples, especially by the opponents of Islam.” It claims jihad is brought up by opponents of Islam as something bad and something to be avoided, adding that Muslims were deliberately defamed by these opponents over jihad.
The book completely ignores the use of jihad by terrorist organizations and does not make a single reference to al-Qaeda, ISIS or other violent jihadist groups that abuse the concept for murder, plunder, rape and other crimes. Not only were such groups overlooked in the sub-chapter that deals with jihad, but they were also not cited in another sub-chapter that specifically focuses on terrorism.
It describes the founding fathers in Ottoman times as people who made jihad their way of life and says they never hesitated to give their lives to the jihadist cause in the name of Allah. Stating that jihad will last until the end of time, the book describes jihadist activity as one of the responsibilities that every Muslim man and woman must fulfill.
The book is a worrying example of how the Islamist ideology of President Erdoğan and his associates have taken a toll on education in Turkey, with 12 graders being taught to give their lives in the name of jihad without any reference to the terrorist groups that abuse the concept….
Kay Murray says
How the hell do ya think Islam got over to Africa and as far west as the Balkans and Slovakian nations?
Militarized and weaponized jihad. Convert; stay Christan as a slave or die.
Wow…whatta way to get people to join up!
mortimer says
They are teaching the children to hate the non-Muslim kafirs. Where can this lead except to suicide bombings and jihadic terrorism? All non-Muslim countries in the world should be deeply alarmed by this. It means that Turkey is preparing its young people to become terrorists. No country will be safe from them.
mortimer says
Erdogan is stealthily dismantling Turkey’s “LAICITY” (same concept in France).
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20028295
Quotes: “Redefining secularism
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has never shied away from controversy. He and his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), in power for a decade, have tried to reinterpret secularism.
For example, Mr Erdogan and his party refused to continue the strict ban on religion from all public domains and its limitation to private life.
Moreover, the prime minister has said again and again that “only states can be secular, not individuals”.
And earlier this year, Mr Erdogan caused a stir when he said he would like to see a “pious generation”. Furthermore, parliament approved a law which allows religious schools, known as imam hatips, to take on students as young as 11.
The prime minister promoted this new interpretation during his first visit to Egypt in September 2011. He described himself as a Muslim prime minister of a secular state. This new approach was branded by Turkish columnists as a revision of “laicism”, a Turkish term for separation of state from religion.
Such moves have sparked criticism of Mr Erdogan. He has been accused of having an Islamist agenda and promoting religious conservatism by stealth.
The future shape of secularism in Turkey depends on changes that may yet be introduced to the political system.”
Wellington says
If Ataturk were still alive he would do away with Erdogan and once again get rid of the hijab and other articles of clothing that betoken the rotting corpse which is Islam.
Infidel says
I think Ataturk would be AOK w/ Erdogan’s war w/ Armenia and Greece, and their support of Azerbaijan and other -stans. B’cos Ataturk wanted Turkic racial supremacy to supplant islam, while Erdogan wants both to co-exist side by side. Not all that different. Note that Ataturk never turned the Hagia Sofia back to the Christians, since it would also imply culturally handing it over back to the Greeks, therefore he made it a secular ‘museum’
Michael Copeland says
The author of the article, Abdullah Bozkurt, writes of “the Islamist ideology of President Erdoğan”.
Here is the surprise, Mr. Bozkurt, Erdogan’s ideology is Islam, Mohammed’s Islam.
Armed jihad is an obligation.
GreekEmpress says
Nothing new.
Nothing has changed in 1400+ years.
Infidel says
Or, in case of the Turks, 1000 years
GreekEmpress says
Not news. Nothing has changed in 1400+ years
gravenimage says
Turkey: 12th grade public school textbook promotes armed jihad
…………………………..
Never mind that we are constantly assured that Turkey is “moderate”.
Infidel says
Are we? It had somewhat reduced after Erdogan coming to power. Although I wish more questions had been asked of Dr Oz during the primary if not about islam, about Turkey
L Garou says
I wouldn’t trade the truth of Political Islam for all the Buddhists in Afghanistan!
Ohhhhhh riiiiight, there are no Buddhists (or Hindus) in Afghanistan.
Not anymore..