SNA arrests 4 teachers refused teaching Turkish in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – The Civil Police affiliated with the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA) arrested on Wednesday four teachers in Afrin, northwestern Syria.
The teachers had resigned from the Turkish Yunus Emre Cultural Institute for promoting Turkish language and culture in the region.
A source in the Education Committee affiliated with the local council founded by Turkey in Afrin said that the arrests were made on charges of criticizing the educational and cultural policy pursued by Turkey in the region.
The Yunus Emre Cultural Institute is considered Turkey’s primary tool for promoting its language abroad. It has branches in the cities of Azaz, al-Bab, Jarablus, and Afrin. In addition, the institute teaches Turkish in camps in Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria.
The institute initiated a campaign aiming to teach Turkish language to approximately 300,000 children in northern Syria.