Istanbul Technical University (ITU) students launched a campaign on change.org to build a buddhist temple on campus, collecting 16,695 signatures.
A mock statement released by campaigners reclaimed universities as non-religious places.
“However,” the statement continued, “If it can’t be religion-free, then it must support all religions.”
The campaign started after the university president Mehmet Karaca’s remark that there had been a recent demand to build a mosque. Launched in another campaign on change.org for the mosque attracted 155,918 users.
“There are all sorts of plans. Not only a mosque, if there is a demand, we can even build a synagogue,” he said.
The university administration, on the other hand, has yet to respond the demand for the buddhist temple campaign. (AS/BM)
* The petition signer tolls are as of March 30 at 1pm local time (GMT+2).
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
