ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a stern warning over the weekend regarding the expanding influence of powerful technology leaders, accusing them of attempting to shape the lives, values, and futures of young people worldwide. Speaking on Saturday at a high-profile gathering in Istanbul celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Ilim Yayma Cemiyeti (Dissemination of Science Association), the Turkish leader emphasized that Türkiye must proactively raise a generation capable of mastering technological advancements while fiercely preserving its distinct national and spiritual identity.
Addressing a large audience of educators, students, alumni, and civil society leaders, Erdoğan identified modern youth as the primary target of what he termed "techno-oligarchs." He asserted that these powerful corporate and technology executives are actively seeking to direct the trajectory of global society and future generations according to their own narrow economic interests and secular worldviews.
The president noted that the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence and cutting-edge digital technologies is fundamentally transforming everyday society. This digital shift, he argued, makes it increasingly critical to shield young people from external ideologies that promote racism, hyper-hedonism, and a disregard for traditional moral boundaries.
"The TEKNOFEST generation will be our greatest assurance against the domineering mentality of techno-oligarchs who commodify people, nature, the sky, and even space," Erdoğan said, referencing Türkiye’s widely celebrated technology, aerospace, and innovation festival. TEKNOFEST has successfully drawn millions of young people interested in science, engineering, and domestic technological innovation in recent years.
Erdoğan underscored that the legacy and modern mission of the Ilim Yayma generation remain central to this defensive and progressive cultural effort. He emphasized the pressing necessity of developing new technologies through a human-centered approach that prioritizes moral responsibility alongside scientific achievement.
"Our common goal is to raise a generation that uses and develops technology with a human-centered approach," he told the audience, calling for the cultivation of young minds who read deeply, think critically, and produce innovative works without ever losing their moral compass, humanity, or connection to national and spiritual values.
Pointing to recent troubling incidents reported within various schools, Erdoğan framed them as tangible evidence of the threats posed by harmful external influences. He reiterated that students must be actively safeguarded from toxic ideologies that encourage racial hatred and excessive, self-destructive self-indulgence. He urged students and educators alike to remain deeply committed to their academic and civic responsibilities, arguing that the nation must prepare its youth to navigate an increasingly uncertain future shaped by relentless technological disruption and global cultural pressures.
Ilim Yayma’s 75-Year History and Foundational Legacy
Transitioning from contemporary technological warnings to historical reflections, President Erdoğan offered high praise for the Ilim Yayma Cemiyeti. Founded in 1951, the Turkish educational and civil society organization has played a monumental role in shaping the nation’s educational landscape and nurturing generations of students over three-quarters of a century.
Erdoğan described the organization’s rich history as deeply intertwined with the modern history of Türkiye itself. He argued that its foundational principles mirror the country’s long-standing, generational ambition to educate young people who are intellectually knowledgeable, ethically grounded, and deeply committed to serving society.
"Although it was founded in 1951, the history of Ilim Yayma is also the history of Türkiye," Erdoğan said. "Its founding philosophy is the philosophy of Türkiye’s existence, and its ultimate goal is Türkiye’s centuries-old aspiration."
During his address, the president paid heartfelt tribute to the organization’s visionary founders. He specifically honored its first president, Seniyüddin Başak, who played a crucial role in protecting Turkish foundation properties during the historical Lausanne Conference; Gen. Ömer Cemal Karabekir, a prominent supporter of the Turkish National Movement during the War of Independence; and retired Col. Vehbi Bilimer, a decorated veteran of the Gallipoli campaign, the Battle of Kut, and the Turkish War of Independence.
Erdoğan also recalled the contributions of Hasan Hikmet Demirbaş, a writer for the influential Sebilürreşad magazine and a close associate of national poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, among other prominent figures who helped lay the institutional groundwork for the association. These founders, he noted, shared an unwavering commitment to ensuring that Turkish children would never be deprived of proper education, essential knowledge, or sound moral guidance, particularly during periods of intense political and social hardship.
Their shared ambition, Erdoğan explained, was to confidently entrust the nation’s future to a well-educated, responsible, and self-assured generation. He described Ilim Yayma as an enduring symbol of Türkiye’s historic struggle for independence and its bright future, adding that the organization’s extensive work has always run parallel to the country’s broader domestic struggles for educational advancement and democratic strengthening.
Expansion of Imam Hatip Schools and Student Support
A significant portion of the president’s address focused on the historical contributions of Ilim Yayma to the reopening and expansion of imam hatip schools across Türkiye. These specialized educational institutions uniquely combine comprehensive religious instruction with a robust standard general education curriculum.
Erdoğan noted that the organization directly helped establish Türkiye’s very first modern imam hatip school on October 17, 1951—just six days after the association’s official establishment. In the decades that followed, the group contributed heavily to the construction of more than 100 such high schools throughout the country.
This systematic expansion successfully extended vital educational opportunities far beyond the borders of Istanbul, bringing modern schooling and religious instruction to communities across the Anatolian heartland, Erdoğan said. Beyond high schools, the organization established student dormitories in several major cities, providing crucial scholarships and safe accommodation for students traveling from distant provinces to pursue higher education in Istanbul. These vital support services enabled tens of thousands of young people to continue their academic journeys in secure and supportive environments.
Erdoğan acknowledged that the organization achieved these milestones despite facing significant systemic obstacles, political pressures, and economic difficulties over the decades, ultimately cementing its position as a pillar of Türkiye’s civil society and educational framework. He credited the profound determination and steadfast faith of the founders with laying the bedrock for an institution that continues to uplift students and educators to this day.
Current Infrastructure: 192 Branches and 153 Dormitories
Detailing the contemporary scope of the association, Erdoğan shared impressive statistics regarding its current national footprint. The Ilim Yayma Cemiyeti now operates 192 local branches, 153 student dormitories, and 122 dedicated education centers. These facilities offer comprehensive services spanning from basic tutoring up through higher education and advanced academic development programs.
The president also commended the vital contributions of the Ilim Yayma Foundation, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, countless volunteers, generous donors, and active alumni associations. He stated that their combined, collaborative efforts have enabled the wider Ilim Yayma community to serve the country and society with distinction.
"What 68 dedicated individuals set in motion 75 years ago now touches the lives of millions through schools, dormitories, scholarships, education centers, academic support, and international initiatives," he remarked.
Erdoğan described the organization’s exponential growth as a profound source of national pride, comparing the modest seed planted by the founders to a mighty plane tree flourishing under divine providence. Generations of students have directly benefited from this institutional network, with many graduating to assume leadership roles serving their country and humanity at large.
The president urged current members and leadership to pass this rich legacy on to future generations with renewed determination, expressing absolute confidence that the organization’s scope and societal impact will continue to expand in the years ahead. He encouraged young people to draw enduring inspiration from historical struggles while keeping their focus firmly fixed on the complex challenges of tomorrow, stressing that the proper education of human capital requires immense patience, sustained effort, and a long-term strategic vision.
Investing in Future Generations and Meeting Modern Challenges
Concluding his anniversary address, Erdoğan stressed that while Ilim Yayma’s achievements over the past 75 years are deeply commendable, its future relevance will depend entirely on how effectively it responds to rapidly evolving social and technological demands.
He posed rhetorical questions regarding how the organization can successfully reach an even broader segment of students, assist young people in discovering their unique talents, safeguard their spiritual growth, and reinforce national identity against overwhelming global cultural influences. He further emphasized the urgent necessity for Türkiye to independently produce scientific, technological, cultural, and artistic works rooted deeply in its own historical traditions while remaining globally competitive in a fast-paced world.
Reiterating his earlier cautions regarding artificial intelligence, Erdoğan noted that emerging technologies are already fundamentally rewriting the rules of everyday life, forcing educational institutions globally to adapt their methodologies and priorities. He warned once again that powerful technology executives, whom he characterized as "techno-oligarchs," harbor ambitions to manipulate future societies to serve private agendas rather than the public good.
The central challenge for modern educators and policymakers, according to Erdoğan, is ensuring that technological progress genuinely serves humanity, rather than reducing human beings and the natural world into commodified market assets. He reiterated his belief that the rising TEKNOFEST generation exemplifies the exact type of young demographic Türkiye requires to meet this existential challenge—one that seamlessly combines high-level scientific ambition with strict ethical responsibility and a profound sense of cultural belonging.
"Do not become complacent or lose heart," Erdoğan told the attentive audience as he wrapped up his remarks. "If you have faith, you are the ones who will prevail."
He pledged that the Ilim Yayma community would persistently carry forward the foundational mission initiated by its early pioneers, ensuring that current members uphold their legacy driven by duty rather than the pursuit of worldly rewards such as status, fame, or wealth. Erdoğan concluded by expressing unwavering faith in Turkish youth, urging them to shoulder the organization’s educational torch with steadfast determination.