The protests of students against the appointment of Melih Bulu to Boğaziçi University as rector by President Erdoğan were on the agenda of the religious affairs today. A sermon sent to mosques of Turkey for Friday prayers by the Turkish religious affairs against the protests of students while the academics of METU announced that they are proud of the students.

News Center- The academics of the Middle East Technical University (MENU) wore their academic gowns and supported the students protesting against the appointment of Melih Bulu to Boğaziçi University as rector by President Erdoğan. A sermon sent to mosques of Turkey for Friday prayers by the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs was about the protests of the students. “Youth share the country’s national and moral values,” the sermon said.

The academics of METU issued a press statement to support the students. Prof. Dr. Erkan Erdil from METU made a speech and said that they are proud of those who defend the universal autonomous, democratic, productive academic traditions and principles against appointments to rectors.

“Hold an election”

The academics called for the election to be held with the participation of all universities’ members to determine rectors and other administrators at universities. In the statement, the academics emphasized that the right to protest is a constitutional right and they reacted to the violence against the students.

A sermon from religious affairs

The protests of students were also on the agenda of the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs today. A sermon sent to 81 mosques of Turkey for today’s Friday prayers by the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs was about the protests of the students. The sermon entitled, “Our Youth: Our Greatest Possibility and Fortune”, said, “When the youth is well evaluated, it will bring happiness to the world and the hereafter, otherwise it will turn into years of regret.” Referring to students, the sermon said, “When you walked on these lands with the strength you get from your belief and your love for your homeland, you opened the doors of Anatolia to Islam in Manzikert. You conquered Istanbul. On July 15 (The attempted coup), you made the supreme sacrifice for the continuation of our state and the safety of our nation but you never surrender your homeland to the traitors.”