21.02.2026 11:30
The statement "We Defend Secularism Together" continues to maintain its place in the political agenda. Recently, the statement, which President Erdoğan also criticized harshly, has not gone unnoticed by the art community. Most recently, artist Metin Şentürk shared a video on social media, reacting to those who published the statement by saying, "Shame on you."
The statement titled "We Defend Secularism Together," published with the signatures of 168 individuals, including academics, journalists, artists, and representatives of professional chambers, continues to maintain its place on the political agenda. The statement includes criticisms of the government's policies while emphasizing secularism...
UNDER HEAVY CRITICISM
Many familiar names, including President Erdoğan, have criticized the statement. Most recently, beloved artist Metin Şentürk from the art community vehemently criticized those who published the statement in a video he shared on social media.
In the video, Şentürk began his statement with the words, "Friends have published a statement. About the loss of secularism. I call out to the brainless who try to turn religion into profit-driven criminal organizations," and conveyed that those who prepared the statement insulted religious values in the name of secularism.
"UNACCEPTABLE CLAIMS ARE UNFOUNDED"
Describing the publication of such a text in the spiritual atmosphere of the month of Ramadan as unacceptable, the artist stated that the claims of Turkey being under a reactionary or Sharia siege are unfounded.
Şentürk expressed his reaction with the following words:
In a country where more than 90% are Muslims; those who pray are praying, those who do not are not. Those who fast are fasting, those who do not are not. On Friday, those who go to Friday prayers are going, those who do not are not, and no one is saying anything.
This country was tested on July 15, this country was tested through Alevi-Sunni; sectarian debates. This country was tested through Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood. Aren't you ashamed?
ERDOĞAN: WE WILL NOT SAY THANK YOU
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently made harsh criticisms regarding the published statement during a program he attended, saying: "We will ensure that our children, who are the guarantee of our future, are aware of these blessed days through various activities we will organize in our schools, benefiting from this climate of abundance.
"WE WILL NOT LISTEN TO DELUSIONS"
Despite there being no intervention in their lifestyles for 23 years, and while there is no discussion of secularism in Turkey, we will never deviate from what we know to be right without listening to the delusions of the unruly crowd that cannot tolerate our nation's faith being lived freely.
We will not say thank you to those who want to cast a shadow over the Ramadan joy of 86 million with their published statements, who seek to sow discord among our nation, and who polarize our people during the month of Ramadan, the month of unity and brotherhood."