Reaction from Minister Göktaş to Tijen Mergen's post

Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş reacted to the statements used by businessman Tijen Mergen in his social media post regarding Boğaziçi University's 159th Graduation Week. The expressions used by businessman Tijen Mergen regarding students and parents wearing chadors and skullcaps in his social media post about Boğaziçi University's 159th Graduation Week caused controversy on social media. In his post, Mergen stated that, as Boğaziçi University Alumni Association, they came together with new graduates during the graduation week and that there were families from different walks of life on campus.

In her post, Mergen said, "Over the years, I watched with a heavy heart that the same change in Turkey was happening at my university as well, adding, "The Bosphorus has now become a small reflection of Türkiye. Families from all walks of life and lifestyles were there to share the excitement of their children's graduation. Students with chadors, mothers, fathers wearing skullcaps, thousands of people who have worked hard for years and came to experience that proud day...

I would like to see a more contemporary portrait in Türkiye's leading science center. he said. In his post, Mergen also stated that he missed the mass graduation ceremonies held in previous years and noted that he followed the protests of the students regarding the graduation ceremonies.

Mergen ended his post with, "I still maintain hope. He concluded with these words: Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş also reacted to businessman Tijen Mergen's social media post. In his statement on his NSosyal account, Minister Göktaş said: "Targeting mothers and families who share the joy of their children's graduation is not modernity, but blatant discrimination.

This old tutelage mentality, which humiliates people based on their attire, looks down on our nation's values, and belittles a segment of society, no longer has any equivalent in Türkiye. We will not remain silent when anyone is belittled, targeted or marginalized because of their belief, identity, clothing or lifestyle. "We will never give up our fight against those who try to divide, polarize and pit our nation against each other.