The Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), an organization affiliated with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and led by his son Bilal Erdoğan, is facing backlash for distributing books to children in Van province with controversial themes such as martyrdom, war, and death, Turkish Daily Sozcu reported. Critics argue the content is inappropriate for children and promotes extremist ideologies.
Graphic Content Sparks Outrage
As part of a “bookworm competition” targeting middle school students, TÜGVA distributed books featuring detailed depictions of violence and martyrdom. Prizes for participants reportedly included trips to Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Passages from the books include:
- “The sound of explosions stopped, and children were playing hide-and-seek around me. I was surprised to see each of them in spotless white clothes.”
- “‘Let’s place the children here,’ someone said. I was excited because it meant more children were coming. But small bodies wrapped in white shrouds arrived instead.”
- “I learned that one of the Israeli soldiers occupying our homeland targeted me and my father and fired. When the bullet hit my head, it didn’t hurt. I cannot even describe how I was welcomed in the afterlife, even with my superpowers.”
- “I am two years old and will always remain this age because I am no longer among you. I became a martyr.”
The content has alarmed education professionals and parents, who argue that such graphic descriptions of violence and death are harmful to children’s psychological and emotional development.
Union Leader Blasts TÜGVA’s Actions
Murat Atabay, president of the Van branch of the Education Union (Eğitim-Sen), condemned the distribution of the books, calling them unsuitable for children. “The books handed out by TÜGVA are not age-appropriate and are riddled with ideological messaging glorifying martyrdom,” Atabay said.
He also criticized the Ministry of National Education for its close collaboration with religious foundations like TÜGVA. “In recent years, we’ve seen a significant rise in protocols between the ministry and sectarian organizations,” he added. “Many of these agreements go unchallenged or are reintroduced with minor changes even after being legally overturned.”
Atabay pledged to pursue legal action and called on parents to shield their children from such content.
Fears of Ideological Indoctrination
Atabay accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of undermining secular education by encouraging alliances with religious and ideological groups. “The AKP has spent years dismantling secular and scientific education,” he said. “They’re now focusing on steering children toward sectarian ideologies, particularly those aligned with Salafism.”
He urged families and educators to stand against the dissemination of ideologically charged materials in schools, warning of the long-term damage to Turkey’s educational system and children’s development.
TÜGVA has not issued a statement addressing the controversy. The incident has reignited concerns over the increasing influence of religious organizations in Turkish public education.
