We now have the chance to turn all schools into religious schools, says AKP deputy

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet archives

The ruling party now has the chance to transform all schools in Turkey into imam hatip religious schools thanks to recent educational reforms, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Ali Boğa said, private broadcaster NTV reported.

Boğa was attending the homecoming celebrations of Muğla İmam Highschool when he stated that Turkey was "now past the times when it was forbidden to read the Quran."

"We are here as imam hatip graduates, or as allies," Boğa said. "We will increase the number of these schools in records. We have the chance to turn all schools into imam hatip [schools]."

"We have that chance now that the Quran and religious classes were added to schools’ curriculum," Boğa said.