Turkish clerics debate Demba Ba’s ‘Islamic’ goal celebration

The goal celebration of Beşiktaş’s Senegalese national Demba Ba, who kneels down to prostrate before God after goal, has stirred a religious debate in Turkey, with a popular televangelist declaring it a sin to perform the action in a random direction instead of toward the Kaaba.

“Our qibla is the Masjid al-Haram until doomsday,” said Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, known as “Cüppeli” (Robed) Ahmet Hoca among his followers, in reference to the mosque which also hosts the Kaaba.
Muslims worship turning their faces to qibla wherever they are.

“Such random prostrations wrong. This is something dangerous,” the controversial scholar said in an interview on broadcaster CNNTürk.

“We would appreciate any Islamic signs by artists, sports people or celebrities. This would bring Islam forward. Kids would wonder what this person is doing. But qibla is obligatory in glorifying prostration.”
But random prostration is “unappreciated and sinful,” he said, speaking of the risks of becoming a “heretic.”

Ba has already enraptured Beşiktaş fans with 16 goals in 20 official games, half of which have come in the UEFA Europa League.  

Such goal celebration is becoming increasingly popular in Turkey, with Ba’s countryman and close friend, Fenerbahçe striker Moussa Sow, having celebrated piously for three years.

Trabzonspor’s Yatabare also celebrates his goals with prostrations, together with his teammates.
Turkish international and Atletico Madrid ace Arda Turan is also among those who kneel down after scoring.

Every time Ba kneels down behind God, his teammate, goalkeeper Tolga Zengin, imitates him.
Cüppeli Ahmet Hoca is strict on the direction of the move, but other clerics are...