18.12.2025 20:50
President's Chief Advisor Oktay Saral reacted to Sabancı University for scheduling classes during Friday prayer time. Saral stated, "Sabancı University is committing a blatant disrespect. It should immediately reconsider; educational institutions must be sensitive to this issue."
President's Chief Advisor Oktay Saral added a new striking statement to his previous remarks on social media. Saral reacted to Sabancı University for scheduling classes during Friday prayer time.
SARAL TO SABANCI UNIVERSITY: SCHEDULING CLASSES DURING FRIDAY PRAYER TIME IS DISRESPECTFUL
Saral called for the university to immediately reverse its decision, stating: "Sabancı University is committing an open disrespect by scheduling classes during Friday prayer time. This situation is neither a technical malfunction nor an innocent planning mistake; it is a conscious, persistent, and hurtful choice.
"YÖK DECISIONS ARE CLEAR"
The decisions of YÖK are clear. The governor's circulars are explicit. "Sensitivity should be shown to those who wish to perform Friday prayers" has been communicated multiple times through official documents. Nevertheless, prolonging the issue by saying "we are reviewing" is not about solving the matter; it is about buying time, ignoring it, and disregarding faith.
RESPECT FOR FAITH IS A REQUIREMENT OF JUSTICE"
If the court proceedings pause during Friday prayer time in this country, universities must also pause their classes. Because respect for faith is not a privilege, but a requirement of social peace and justice. This is not a violation of secularism; it is a democratic necessity.
Whether private or public: No educational institution has the right to disregard this nation's sacred time or to ignore its believers. Sabancı University must immediately reverse this mistake, and educational institutions should pay attention to this sensitivity!"