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Erdogan wants youth to learn Ottoman-era Turkish

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking fire for his vow to make Ottoman-era Turkish a compulsory course in high schools.
People walk past the Ottoman-era Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul November 28, 2014. Pope Francis begins a visit to Turkey on Friday with the delicate mission of strengthening ties with Muslim leaders while condemning violence against Christians and other minorities in the Middle East. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: RELIGION) - RTR4FZ43

Addressing the Fifth Religion Council on Dec. 8, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to make Ottoman-era Turkish a compulsory course in high schools. “Turkey’s scholars and intellectuals are fortunately standing tall despite 200-year-long pressures trying to cut us from our roots,” Erdogan said. “Teaching Ottoman [-era Turkish] is debated for five days in the [National Education] Council. Yet there are those who are troubled by this country’s students learning Ottoman.” He added: “Whether they like it or not, Ottoman will be taught and learned in this country.”

Despite this stern narrative, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu played it down. “Those students who wish to study it may take it as an elective course, and those who don’t want to study it — don’t! This is what is being proposed at the [National Education Council],” Davutoglu said Dec. 8. “It is not possible to understand this allergy toward our historical background and our culture.”

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