The Taraf daily published a document prepared by the National Security Council (MGK) on Aug. 25, 2004, suggesting that the government implement a series of measures to curb the activities of the Hizmet movement. It advises the government to adopt legal measures that would impose harsh penalties on Hizmet-affiliated institutions, such as prep schools. Throughout the last week, many representatives of prep schools held protests. Columnists share their views on the MGK document and the debate about prep schools.
According to Bugün columnist Adem Yavuz Arslan, the government had not put the plan described in the document into effect, but such a plan may have been carried out by the MGK. Arslan says a great majority of the public opposes the closure of prep schools, but the AK Party insists on closing the schools without giving sensible reasons. The government should show the public that it really did not put the plan into effect by cancelling the closure of prep schools.
Star's Eser Karakaş thinks that since the revelation of the documents there have been many unnecessary debates in some newspapers which do not help Turkey move forward.
Zaman's Ali Ünal writes that there is no conflict between the government and the Hizmet movement due to plans to close prep schools, denying some news reports. Ünal also advises members of the Hizmet movement to stay away from any heated arguments with the government.
Published on Today's Zaman, 02 December 2013, Monday
