JINHA

ISTANBUL – A high school teacher in Istanbul reportedly used the excuse of giving a religious lesson to tell the class that he “felt lustful” when girls wore leggings. Teachers and women’s organizations are organizing protests against the teacher.

According to the newspaper Birgün, a religion and ethics teacher at a high school in Istanbul’s Beykoz district made harassing comments in the classroom recently. The teacher, Emin Şahin, told the class that he “felt lust when looking between the legs of girls wearing leggings.” The teacher then asked a female student wearing leggings to stand up. Calling on a male student, he asked, “What do you feel about this?” The student answered, “Me too.” “Then the matter is closed for me,” said the teacher, apparently using the excuse of teaching “morality” to make the remarks.

After a number of parents and teachers became aware of the incident, the principal called in Emin Şahin, who denied the incident.

Parents, teachers and women’s organizations have begun organizing to protest Emin Şahin and call for the incident to be fully investigated.

(gc/cm)