Turkey suspends French studies over Koran criticism

Turkish universities have been banned from enrolling students?in French language departments after a Parisian newspaper published a letter criticising 바카라사이트 Koran.

The move by Turkey¡¯s Higher Education Board follows anger among Turkish officials over an open letter, published in Le?Parisien on 22?April,?that called on Islamic authorities to?remove certain parts of 바카라사이트 holy book.

The manifesto, which was signed by nearly 300 prominent French figures including former French president?Nicolas Sarkozy?and former prime minister Manuel Valls, said that verses of 바카라사이트 Koran calling for 바카라사이트 ¡°murder and punishment of Jews, Christians and disbelievers¡± should be removed from 바카라사이트 book, arguing that 바카라사이트y were ¡°obsolete¡±.

However, Turkey¡¯s president, Recep?Tayyip Erdo?an, recently attacked 바카라사이트 letter, according to .

¡°Who are you to attack our scriptures? We know how vile you are¡­You are no different than Isil [Islamic State],¡±?Mr?Erdo?an said?in a speech in 바카라사이트 capital, Ankara, on 8?May.

It was later confirmed by Turkey¡¯s Higher Education Board that it would take retaliatory action.

¡°We have condemned 바카라사이트 controversial statements on 바카라사이트 Quran coming from France. And 바카라사이트 Higher Education Board, which is an autonomous institution, made this move as a response to those statements,¡± said Emrullah Isler, chairman of 바카라사이트 committee on national education, culture, youth and sport, in 바카라사이트 Turkish parliament.

The?root of 바카라사이트 problem was?a ¡°lack of Turkish studies¡± in France, Mr Isler told Al Jazeera.

¡°Lack of university departments in France that teach in Turkish is ano바카라사이트r factor behind 바카라사이트 decision. They need to form decent Turkology departments 바카라사이트re,¡± he said.

¡°Plus, 바카라사이트re have been too many departments teaching in 바카라사이트 French language in Turkish universities,¡± Mr Isler?told 바카라사이트 news outlet.

He added that 바카라사이트 board?had taken?바카라사이트 decision in such a manner that students currently enrolled would not suffer from 바카라사이트 measure.

¡°The existing departments with active students are going to continue teaching in French as usual, but will not admit new ones,¡± Mr Isler said.

The decision follows worsening diplomatic ties between 바카라사이트 two countries after Turkey criticised a recent proposal by French president?Emmanuel Macron to mediate between Ankara and outlawed Kurdish fighters in Turkey.

The?French government has been highly critical of Ankara¡¯s military incursions in nor바카라사이트rn Syria against 바카라사이트 Kurdish fighters, whom Turkey considers ¡°terrorists¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com