Skip to main content

Erdogan calls Turkey’s teachers 'looters' amid protests, calls for exam boycott

Turkey's president has called protesting teachers "looters," a derogative reminiscent of the 2013 Gezi protests.
ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

ISTANBUL — Teachers have become the latest professional group to draw the ire of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following a demonstration in Ankara that ended in a violent police reaction. 

Responding Thursday to calls for teachers to boycott professional exams due to be introduced in November, Erdogan described the move as a “malicious attempt to use our teachers as political material.” 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.