Rector defends controversial statues placed in university, says 'aim is to promote Turkish culture'

A number of utterly bizarre and controversial statues in Turkey's Karabük University were placed to "promote Turkish culture," the university's rector said upon criticism regarding their cost.

Duvar English - The rector of a university in the Black Sea province of Karabük has defended the placement of bizarre statues depicting children's games, saying that they aim to "promote Turkish culture."

1 7

Prof. Refik Polat told Demirören News Agency that he doesn't accept any criticism regarding the cost of the statues, saying, "The cost of some things should not be questioned."

2 7

"These games are the ones that we played during our childhood. The new generation doesn't know them. Our aim is to keep them alive through these statues," Polat said, noting that the statues are in Karabük University's culture park.

3 7

Saying that foreign students get to learn about Turkish culture through the statues, Polat noted that "even African students come and examine them."

4 7