Soner Akbal, a parent who protested the replacement of the recess bell at Kocaeli Derince Çenesuyu Middle School with the hymn “Hajjis say Hu at the Kaaba,” was detained in Istanbul on February 25, 2026. The police had previously summoned Akbal for questioning; however, his lawyer, Eray Akbal, said that his client was hastily detained following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech at a group meeting. CHP Deputy Group Chairman Murat Emir also reacted to the detention.
February 25, 2026
Cumhuriyet