12 October 2009 / BUGÜN NUH GÖNÜLTAŞ,
This is not the first time that mosques have been the subject of political debates; it has happened before and is happening now as well.
The single-party administrations decided to hang placards over the mosques reading, “Happy is he who calls himself a Turk,” and “We owe gratitude to our army” on the occasion of the liberation of İstanbul. The mahyas of the mosques read “Ata Türk” and “Long live İnönü” during the rule of single party regimes which felt free to use the mosques to promote their agenda. The content of these messages has changed over time. Following the recent mahya messages promoting militarism and ethnic politics, the Young Civilians prepared some recommendations for inclusion in the mahyas to those who are eager to maintain this tradition. These are a few of their suggestions: “The gains of the republic are in jeopardy; are you aware of the danger?” “The mosque is secular and it will remain so,” “Make a coup, stay healthy” and “Dear soldiers, protect us.”
