Following Turkey’s President and chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s warning on the Presidency of Religious Affairs' (Diyanet) deficiencies, the AKP government decided to reorganize the institution in accordance with a new regulation.
President Erdoğan previously delivered a speech and complained about Diyanet’s capabilities, arguing that Turkey’s Religious Affairs should be further active in social life while the mosques should not be satisfied only with performing prayers five times a day.
In pursuance of a regulation dated July 31 and prepared by Diyanet’s ex-president Mehmet Görmez before his resigning, the institution will impose religious interferences in many social groups from Syrian refugees to drug addicts, and from imprisoned people to seasonal workers and child-care centres.
DİYANET UNDERTAKES DUTIES OF MANY MINISTRIES
Some new units will be established within the frame of Diyanet with regard to the recent regulation. Accordingly, a new unit, "Directorate of Immigration and Moral Support Services", will cooperate with related governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations in planning and implementing religious services in cases of natural disasters like earthquake and flood, and during emergency cases like internal disturbance, widespread terror and insurrection.
The unit of immigration will mainly try to find solutions for religious orientation problems of particularly Syrian refugees from various religious sects. It will carry out workings towards "the solutions of religious, cultural and social problems" stemming from internal and external migration in Turkey. Moreover, Diyanet will dwell on "the issue of religious and ethical values" in terms of Turkey’s emigrants to the Western countries. It will also lend "moral support" and "religious consultancy" to the citizens experiencing internal migration for various reasons.
EMERGENCY RELIGIOUS SERVICE
The newly established unit will also play role in cooperation with related governmental bodies and non-governmental organizations in planning and implementing religious services in cases of natural disasters and such internal disturbances as terror and insurrection. Hence, Diyanet will be active in transferring required measurements to the personnel and the people under extraordinary circumstances in Turkey. This unit of Religious Affairs will also meet the religious needs of seasonal workers around the country.
DİYANET UNDERTAKES MINISTRY OF SOCIAL POLICIES' DUTIES
According to the recent regulation, Diyanet will provide service of "moral support" for 10-million handicapped citizens. The new unit will make preparations of “moral support” in hospitals, medical centres, child-care centres, and prisons.
Having organized pilgrimage tours for the citizens who participated in drug enforcement programmes and recovered from drug addiction, Diyanet will further institutionalize such missions, coordinating with some governmental bodies and NGOs.
MOSQUES WILL BE FURTHER ACTIVE IN SOCIAL LIFE
Diyanet’s recent regulation details the duties of current units as well. Accordingly, mosques will be further active in social life. A unit will follow up the problems of mosques at out-of-town recreational facilities and shopping malls. Diyanet’s “Directorate of Family and Religious Guidance” will be entitled to "provide religious services at such social service organizations as ‘houses of love’ [kindergartens], nursing centres, orphanages and women’s shelters."
RELIGIOUS CULTS AND SECTS
Diyanet’s related regulation also gives place to unlawful religious cults and sects that violate the principle of secularism. A unit of Turkey’s Religious Affairs is appointed to "carry out workings in terms of religious structures, organizations and traditional cultural entities". "To coordinate and follow up the workings and procedures that will be carried out with related institutions and non-governmental organizations with regard to prevention of such negative circumstances as terror and violence that threaten social peace," states the regulation designating the tasks of "Directorate of Social and Cultural-related Religious Services".
The General Directorate of Religious Publications will become further influential in the country’s social life while the General Directorate of Foreign Relations will satisfy the religious needs of Turkish citizens living abroad, and coordinate donations in foreign countries.
