The Justice and Development Party-led new school curriculum praises the concept of jihad, saying, "Those who conduct jihad with their lives and properties in the path of Allah shall be bestowed with heaven", and imposes Islamic lifestyle upon the school children

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) national school curriculum contains jihadist concepts. A school book, 'Basic Religious Knowledge', praises the concept of jihad, saying "Those who conduct jihad with their lives and properties in the path of Allah shall be bestowed with heaven".

'THE GIFT OF HEAVEN FOR JIHADISTS'

The school book argues that jihad is one of the most important religious services in Islam, adding that it is a religious obligation for all the Muslims. The 'Basic Religious Knowledge' book prepared in accordance to the AKP-led anti-scientific curriculum reads:

"Today, anti-Islamists identify the concept of jihad with bad examples, showing it as if something that people should stand away. However, the hadith [the sayings and deeds o the Islamic prophet Mohammed] praises jihadists, bestowing them with heaven if they fight with their lives and properties in the path of Allah. The Prophet encouraged the Muslims to conduct jihad."

Another religious book, 'Fiqh' –Islamic jurisprudence-, which defines the concept of jihad as "endeavouring, suffering pains, announcing the divine message to the people, striving for dignifying and spreading the religion of Allah, living and making self-sacrifice for Allah", further emphasizes that jihad does not only include the economic and intercultural struggle but also the armed fight.

'JIHAD AGAINST ARMED INSURRECTIONS'

The religious book prepared for Turkey’s school children elaborates the concept of jihad in case of a declaration of mobilization when the country is under occupation. The book also lists riots as domestic disturbances such as armed insurrection with reference to the last year’s failed coup attempt in Turkey.

"It is legitimate to fight a war with the aim of protecting religion, lives, properties, generations and minds when the country is attacked. The crime of armed insurrection and riot against the state is defined as 'bağy'. What happened on July 15 is an example of the crime of insurrection to the state. It is the right and duty of the state to take required measures and suppress the act of rebellion against those who attempt to destruct the state order and establish a parallel structure."

The book also sets forth that the use of the concept of jihad by some terrorist organizations should not lead the Muslims to avoid their own concepts. It further says the armed methods of uncontrolled groups cause terror and chaos in the society and eliminate the safety of life and property, harming the Muslims’ image and identity in the world.

'CONSENT WITH POVERTY'

The Islamist AKP government's new curriculum portrays Turkey's people's food culture with religious elements. A chapter argues, "The Turks eat little. They are not much fond of the taste of dining table. They do not look for anything else than a slice of bread with salt, onion and yoghurt."

Although these expressions claim to teach "economic life standards", they both contradict with the Turkish food culture and attempt to impose Islamic approaches since Islam teaches believers to consent with poverty and to be grateful to God even while the gap between the rich and poor social classes increasingly gets deeper in Turkey.

In Turkey, many people criticize the curriculum because it urges people to live a religious life even in poor conditions, teaching the school children to consent with a sort of Islamic capitalism under the rule of Justice and Development Party.

AKP ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH AN ISLAMIC LIFESTYLE

The Justice and Development Party government under the lead of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has purged the country’s school curriculum of scientific knowledge such as the theory of evolution and the historical principles of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey.

Instead, it replaced the former curriculum with Islamic elements and concepts like jihad, consenting with poverty under all circumstances, and misogynist policies in social life with the aim of eliminating secularism and establishing an Islamic lifestyle in the country.