Thousands attend secular figure's funeral in Istanbul
(Edits)
ISTANBUL, May 19 (Reuters) - Thousands of Turks attended the funeral on Tuesday of Turkkan Saylan, an education activist who had become an figurehead for secularists opposed to what they see as the government's efforts to make Turkey more Islamic.
Mourners carrying the Turkish flag gathered in the central district of Nisantasi as Saylan's cortege passed. Some shouted "Secular Turkey will stay secular," "No to Sharia law" and "Hear our voices, AK Party."
Tensions between Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party and the secularist establishment have been running high amid an investigation into a nationalist group, known as Ergenekon, that is accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
Police investigating the Ergenekon network last month raided the offices of Saylan's education association. Several members were detained, and Saylan was questioned in the probe.
On Sunday, some 20,000 people protesting in the capital Ankara called on Erdogan to step down for what they say are his government's efforts to make Turkey more overtly Islamic.
The AK Party traces its roots to a banned Islamist movement and last year narrowly escaped a ban for undermining the secular constitution. Erdogan denies he has an Islamic agenda and describes his party, in power since 2002, as centre-right.
Saylan died on Monday at the age of 74, from breast cancer.
She founded the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life in 1989. It campaigned against illiteracy and provided financial assistance to thousands of impoverished children so that they could attend school. (Writing by Ayla Jean Yackley)
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