Gambling for God

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 14 December 2018)

unavoidable contradictions see this recent TNT report
for another nettlesome religious issue.





The Fix: Take away the billboard and the problem goes
away with it :) 

In Kırıkkale, the Islamic Sciences Faculty building of Kırıkkale
University that is under construction and scheduled for completion
in 2020 is being sponsored by the national sports betting
organization Spor Toto (!).  The pro-AKP government
newspaper Akit has lodged a negative reaction to this situation,
declaring that "Islamic theology cannot be funded with gambling
money!"

Akit shared the following post on social media: "In Çorum last
year Spor Toto sponsored a 'İmam Hatip' (religious) middle
school and now the same thing is happening in Kırıkkale. Rather
than building Islam-related buildings with gambling money,
Spor Toto should be building stadiums and sports facilities for
young people.  'Haram' (forbidden by religion) money should
not be used to build religious buildings!"

The compromise solution has been to take down the Spor Toto
sign at the construction site, although Spor Toto sponsorship
will continue (!).