Turkish schools welcomed and praised in Brazil

Turkish schools established by educational volunteers affiliated with a movement inspired by the teaching of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen were welcomed and praised by Brazilian politicians during an official ceremony on Friday that was held as part of a “Turkish week” in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo's state assembly.

Taking the floor in the assembly, deputy Jose Americo mentioned the “surprising success” of the Turkish schools and said that their example should be followed. Addressing Turkish educators and entrepreneurs, Americo added, “I encourage you to open up more schools in my country.”

Praising the Turkish schools in Brazil, Americo said: “I have personally witnessed the success and the high principles of these schools [in Brazil] when I visited these educational institutions. I was informed that hundreds of these schools were already established in Turkey and the Americas. This is something amazing and an example we should all follow.”

Supporting his colleague, Speaker Fernando Capez and said that the state assembly's doors were always open for the Turkish community. In a brief interview after the ceremony, conveying a “message for the president of Turkey,” Capez was recorded as saying, “Europe is ready to embrace you [Turkey]. We [the country of Brazil] are ready to embrace you. [However,] there is only one detail that obstructs this. Let us strengthen [Turkish] democracy and put an end to this story [of anti-democratic attitudes] so that Turkey can reach the level it deserves among world leaders.”

Published on Today's Zaman, 05 June 2015, Friday (see lower portion of the page)