Baku, Azerbaijan, April 9
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
A stadium in Istanbul, bearing the name of a former member of the Turkish national football team, member of parliament, Hakan Shukur, was renamed, the Turkish Milliyet newspaper wrote.
Shukur has close ties with Fethullah Gulen [Islamic public figure who currently resides in the United States], according to the newspaper.
The new name of the stadium was not revealed.
Earlier on December, Shukur submitted a statement of resignation from the Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party. The reason for the resignation was the party's policy aimed at closing the private educational courses in Turkey, controlled by Gulen.
Earlier this year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Ergodan stated that the Gulen movement (which he earlier called as a 'parallel structure') with its anti-state activities proved that it is not a religious movement, but a politicized, illegal structure.
The council member of Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party, Mazhar Bagli said that all actions of Gulen and his supporters are aimed at undermining the country's national interests.
Earlier, it was reported that Turkish Prime Minister made a statement over the closure of private educational institutions in the country.
"The state supported education sphere must not have private educational institutions," he added.
The draft law was submitted to the country's parliament on February 7, 2014.
Turkish parliament approved the draft law on the closure of the private educational institutions on March 1.
All private preparatory courses will be closed in Turkey from September 1, 2015.
Translated by S.I.