Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs

A proposal to allow "muftis," religious civil servants within the body of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), to register and conduct marriages has stirred controversy in Turkey, with many rights organizations as well as the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) criticizing the issue. 

A recent draft law on the civil registration services proposing to allow "muftis," religious civil servants within the body of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), to register marriages, was submitted to the Turkish parliament on July 25.

Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) strongly criticized a new "liberal" mosque in Germany on June 20, saying it violates the principles of Islam.     

The new Ibn Rushd-Goethe mosque, a mosque which allows female and male Muslims to pray together and bans the wearing of burkas, was opened in Berlin on June 16. The mosque is located inside a Protestant church.        

Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) announced on Feb. 10 the recall and discharge of Turkish imams who were accusing of spying by Germany. 

Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has gathered intelligence via imams from 38 countries on the activities of suspected followers of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, widely believed to be the mastermind of the failed July 15 coup attempt. 

A child should not be forced into marriage even if the parents give their consent to it, Turkey's top cleric said, referring to a verse in the Quran on the importance of marriage.

Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) will form youth branches in mosques in order to prevent youth from joining religious movements that "spoil Islam," such as the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen. 

The practice also aims to encourage the youth to pray in mosques, daily Habertürk reported on Oct. 21.

Mehmet Görmez, the head of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), recently warned religious groups to steer clear of politics and commerce. 

"We should not see religious movements getting involved in politics, trade, or football, for example," Görmez said.

The head of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Mehmet Görmez, has said religious movements should "refrain from engaging in politics."

The head of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Mehmet Görmez, has said religious movements should "refrain from engaging in politics."