November 10th Protest in Izmir: ADD, United Public Workers' Union and Eğitim-İş reacted strongly to the decision to take a break!

İZMİR - The Ministry of National Education's (MoNE) decision to make November 10, the anniversary of the death of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a mid-term holiday in the 2025-2026 education calendar has been widely condemned in Izmir. Unions and non-governmental organizations such as the United Public Workers Confederation, Eğitim-İş and the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (ÇYDD), which came together under the leadership of the Atatürkist Thought Association (ADD), argued that the decision was part of an effort to forget Atatürk.

ADD President Bozkurt Criticizes Minister Tekin: "Yusuf Tekins are Temporary"

Speaking on behalf of the group that gathered in Alsancak and marched from the ÖSYM building to the Türkan Saylan Cultural Center, ADD President Hüsnü Bozkurt targeted Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin. Bozkurt accused Minister Tekin of violating the Constitution and disrupting secular and scientific education:

• Cult and Congregation Allegation: Bozkurt reminded Minister Tekin's remarks on the floor of the Turkish Grand National Assembly that "we call the structures you call sects and congregations civil society organizations" and stated that he violated the Constitution.

• Education Policies: He claimed that secular and scientific education has been turned into a bird with projects such as ÇEDES, depriving children of scientific knowledge.

• November 10 Decision: Bozkurt said that Minister Tekin went so far as to think that he could make our children forget Atatürk by preventing them from commemorating him on November 10. Bozkurt continued, "Make no mistake, Yusuf Tekin's are temporary. But... The new Mustafa Kemals raised by the teachers of the Republic will determine the future of this country."