15.08.2026 15:30
Sinan Burhan, the President of the Turkish Press Federation, reacted to journalist Barış Yarkadaş on a television program he attended, criticizing 'the hostility toward religious communities and orders through secularism.' Burhan said, 'Stop beating believers and Quran courses under the guise of secularism.'
Sinan Burhan, Editor-in-Chief of the National News Agency and President of the Turkish Press Federation, was a guest on a live broadcast program hosted by Erdoğan Aktaş on Tv100.
"THERE CAN BE NO ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE TO THE STATE"
Burhan stated that he disagreed with journalist Barış Yarkadaş, who was also a guest on the program, for displaying a "blanket approach" regarding "secularism."
Sinan Burhan shared the relevant part of the broadcast on his social media account with the note, "There can be no alternative structure to the state. However, you cannot wage hostility against communities and sects through secularism."
"STOP BEATING RELIGIOUS PEOPLE OVER SECULARISM"
In his criticism addressed to Barış Yarkadaş, journalist Sinan Burhan said, "Now, I do not agree with Barış Yarkadaş's blanket approach. Because they applied secularism in a rigid manner for years, they made religious people and the state fight in this country. They drove a wedge between Quran courses and the state. They drove a wedge between the headscarf and the state. But today, the headscarf is free in Turkey, what happened? Nothing happened. Look, everyone speaks freely. So, stop beating religious people and Quran courses over secularism."