Torture with a pair of compasses – Pergel Iskencesi

A pair of compasses, one of the main symbols of progress and belief in science. The founder of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk once said: “The biggest guide in life is science”. It was of course logical for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a youngster who was educated in the creme de la creme of the Ottoman military institutions, the proud of the Abdülhamit II (known as the Red Sultan, funny, one Red Sultan who loves science, and reads crime books in his spare times). Mustafa Kemal Atatürk spent a great time to the administration of the Turkish education system, also contributed to curriculum with various books.

Unfortunately, a pair of compasses was used in other ways in Silifke a district of Mersin (most important port-city of Turkey in the south eastern Mediterranean). In a primary school (obligatory 8 years education), the principle punished 12 of his female students for not taking part in the cleaning activity by hitting them with a pair of glasses. Later he took the students to the hospital, and later detained by the police. Yeah, Turkey is discussing the trial on the potential closure of the AKP, or the scarf-issue at the university. Nobody is talking about the essence, the deficit of the education facilities in Turkey.  I also have experienced during my student times different levels of torture and inhuman behaviour by “educators”, so this news does not shock me, but makes me feel sorry again and again…

Notes:

photo taken from:

(1). http://yenisafak.com.tr/Gundem/?t=13.05.2008&c=1&i=116916

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