Turkish theology professor blasts keeping male and female patients in same rooms during intensive care

ISTANBUL

A theology professor from Istanbul’s Marmara University has drawn criticism after slamming the keeping of male and female patients in the same rooms during intensive care.

Faruk Beşer, who is also a columnist at daily Yeni Şafak, took to Twitter on Feb. 27 to criticize current measures in Turkish hospitals.

“Is it possible to keep man and woman patients in the different rooms during intensive care? Is it an obligation to keep patients nude?” Beşer wrote, addressing Heath Ministry officials.

He also criticized the fact that treatment processes are often conducted by doctors of the opposite sex.

The controversy comes after an Islamic preacher in Turkey recently drew a backlash for suggesting that clean-shaven men sometimes “cannot be distinguished from women” and can cause “indecent thoughts.”

Speaking on religious broadcaster Fatih Medreseleri (Madrasahs) TV on Dec. 16, preacher Murat Bayaral blasted “beardless men.”

“If you see a man with long hair from afar you might think he is a woman if he does not have a beard, because these day many women and men dress similarly. God forbid! You could be possessed by indecent thoughts,” Bayaral said.