14.05.2026 16:20
A book list allegedly recommended to students at an imam hatip middle school in Pendik has sparked controversy. The Istanbul Governor's Office announced that the signature on the list is claimed not to belong to the school principal, and stated that an investigation has been launched and the principal has been suspended.
The book list allegedly recommended to students at an imam hatip middle school in Istanbul's Pendik district sparked controversy. After the list, which included works by certain authors, circulated on social media, the Istanbul Governorate announced that an investigation had been launched and the school principal had been suspended.
SHARED LIST DREW REACTION
According to the claim, a list of books recommended for reading by the school principal at an imam hatip middle school in Pendik was shared on social media.
The list included;
- Edip Yüksel
- Cemil Kılıç
- İhsan Eliaçık
- Caner Taslaman
- Yaşar Nuri Öztürk
- Zekeriya Beyaz
books by these names caused controversy.
STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNORATE
Following the reactions, the Istanbul Governorate issued a written statement on the matter. The statement noted that the official book reading lists prepared by the Istanbul Governorate and the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education did not include the books shared on social media.
“MY SIGNATURE WAS FORGED” DEFENSE
In the Governorate's statement, it was stated that the school principal was interviewed and the following words were used: “The school principal interviewed on the matter stated that the signature on the said book reading list did not belong to him, his signature was forged, and he himself learned about this list later.”
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
The Istanbul Governorate announced that an investigation had been launched into the incident. The statement also shared the information that the school principal had been suspended.
Here is the full text of the statement made by the Governorate;
"On Thursday, May 14, 2026, various allegations were shared from various social media accounts about a book reading list allegedly prepared at a school in the Pendik District.
The books mentioned in the social media posts are not included in the book reading lists prepared by the Istanbul Governorate and the Provincial Directorate of National Education.
The school principal interviewed on the matter stated that the signature on the said book reading list did not belong to him, his signature was forged, and he himself learned about this list later.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, and the school principal has been suspended.
Announced to the public with respect."