ISTANBUL
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he would disown a child who was involved in corruption.
Speaking during an event in Istanbul marking the hundredth anniversary of religious vocational schools known as Imam-Hatip, the prime minister said, "We must hold ourselves to account before we are held to account (on the Day of Reckoning)."
“Let me be clear; if one of my children were involved in corruption, I would disown them in a second,” he said.
Erdogan’s remarks come amid an ongoing corruption investigation, which led to the arrest of the sons of three ministers who were later replaced as part of a larger cabinet reshuffle.
During the event, Erdogan recognized current and former Turkish leaders as well as members of his AK Party who contributed to forming and reviving imam hatip schools.
Turkey’s higher learning body removed an obstacle in 2011 that prevented imam hatip high school students from entering high-profile universities due to a grading difference that put them at a severe disadvantage. Erdogan said “I would like to congratulate my friends who unlocked the gates of imam hatip schools in 2011 by ending this cruel practice."
Erdogan recalled former Prime Minister Adnan Menderes who reopened the schools after their closure in 1933. Menderes was the leader of Turkey's third opposition party, Democratic Party, after the one-party period. He was executed by the military junta that seized power in 1960.
Erdogan also cited several recent changes concerning Muslims in Turkey such as removing a ban on headscarves in state institutions and the introduction of optional courses in primary and secondary schools on the Qur’an and the life of Prophet Muhammad.
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