"Anti-Terrorism Propaganda" at School

The Diyarbakir Police Department Anti-Terrorism Branch told bianet that for the last two years it had organised conferences at schools "in order to raise awareness about terrorism in students" and that these events were based on guidelines from the Ministry of the Interior and the Prime Ministerial office:

"The terrorist organisation spreads its propaganda through the media in order to increase its effectiveness. We are now spreading propaganda against them."

Güngör: Students turned into spies

According to "Birgün" newspaper, a conference took place at the Dicle Necati Ceylan highschool in Diyarbakir ten days ago. After the conference, the students were given a questionnaire to fill in. It contained questions such as, "Do you believe that your family does enough to make you aware of terrorism? Do you believe that your teachers do enough to raise awareness of terrorism?"

The trade union of educators, Egitim-Sen, confirmed that there had been a conference. In an interview with the Dicle News Agency, Egitim-Sen's Diyarbakir branch secretary Hasan Güngür warned that "students, teachers and families were being put on lists." He added that such activities turned students into spies and directed them towards violence.

"Have you been exposed to propaganda?"

Other questions in the questionnaire were:

• Have you been expposed to negative propaganda by one or more of the below? a) No b) my family c) my relatives d) my friend e) a religious authority f) member of an association g) boss h) teacher i) neighbour
• What are the most-watched TV channels in your home?
• Which of the following activities supporting an illegal ideology have you taken part in? (You may choose more than one) a) meetings in a home b) meetings at a workplace c) meetings at an association d) meetings in a teahouse e) meetings at a mosque f) meetings at an Internet cafe g) demonstrations and marches h) press briefings i) trips and picknicks j) I have not taken part in any of these

"Drink a cup of tea with us"

Students were also asked to write down their thoughts about the conference. They were given a card signed by Diyarbakir Province Police Chief Zeki Catalkaya, reading, "If you want to come and drink a cup of tea with us, we are here". The telephone number, address, email address and website of the Police Department were all given.

The police representative speaking to bianet said that the content of the conferences had been created "together with academics" and that similar activities would continue in other provinces.

"Just as we try to protect our children from drugs, we also try to protect them from terrorism. It is not true that we are pushing them into becoming spies. Our aim is to prevent illegality." (EÜ/AG)