Islamic Political Identity in Turkey

AppendixThe 18 Directives of February 28, 1997According to NSC decision no. 406, the Erkaban government wasinstructed to implement the following 18 directives:1. The principle of secularism should be strictly enforced and lawsshould be modiWed for that purpose, if necessary.2. Private dormitories, foundations, and schools aYliated with SuWreligious orders must be put under the control of relevant stateauthorities and eventually transferred to the Ministry of NationalEducation (MNE).3. An eight-year uninterrupted education system must be implementedacross the country and necessary administrative and legaladjustments should be made so that Qur’anic courses, whichchildren with basic education may attend with parental consent,operate only under the responsibility and control of the MNE.4. National education institutes charged with raising enlightenedclergy loyal to the republican regime and Kemal Atatürk’s principlesand reforms must conform to the essence of the Law onUniWed Education.5. Religious facilities built in various parts of the country must notbe used for political exploitation and such facilities must be builtin coordination with local governments and relevant authorities.6. Activities of religious orders banned by law no. 677, as well as allentities prohibited by said law, must be ended.7. Media groups that oppose the military and depict its members asinimical to religion should be brought under control.8. Personnel expelled from military service because of fundamentalistactivities, disciplinary problems, or connections with illegalorganizations must not be employed by other public agencies andinstitutions or otherwise encouraged.