Halis Bayancuk’s statements and the limits of a mindset

Halis Bayancuk, known for his jihadist/Salafi views and frequently in the news for his statements in recent years, practically defended child marriage in his assessment regarding the release of Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel.

Before addressing this statement by Bayancuk, who is also known by the moniker Ebu Hanzala, it is useful to recall his views on democracy. Bayancuk, who has openly displayed an anti-democratic stance in many of his speeches and advocates for a Sharia-based order, once stated in a speech:

“You say, ‘We are raising children to be secular, democratic, and loyal to the Constitution.’ We, however, see this as blasphemy, we see it as idolatry, and for this reason, we do not send our children to your schools.”

In another speech, Bayancuk stated that they do not vote and addressed citizens who do vote with the following words:

“You are pathetic people who compete in trying to rule over the Creator.”

Expressing a similar approach regarding military service, Bayancuk explained why they do not perform military service with these words:

“Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, while the infidels fight for the taghut (idolatrous tyrants). After calling you ‘taghut,’ we are not going to come and perform military service for you.”

Let us come to Bayancuk’s words regarding Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel.

As will be recalled, Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel’s daughter, H.K.G., stated in her declaration that at the age of six, she was betrothed to Kadir İstekli, one of her father’s disciples, at her father’s request, and was married off at the age of 14; she filed a criminal complaint, stating that she had been subjected to sexual abuse for years.

As a result of the trial, Kadir İstekli was sentenced to 36 years in prison, and Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel was sentenced to 18 years and 9 months in prison in connection with the crime of qualified sexual abuse of a child.

Gümüşel, who was recently released due to health problems and welcomed with takbirs (chants of 'Allahu Akbar') by members of the İsmailağa community, has now been defended by Halis Bayancuk. In a post on his social media account, Bayancuk expressed his satisfaction with the release with these words:

“Alhamdulillah... May Allah (cc) save all the oppressed who are in the same situation as Yusuf Hoca and who have been subjected to the injustice of the system because they married in accordance with religion and custom.”

As stated above, H.K.G. had declared that she was betrothed at the age of six and married off at the age of 14.

Now, it is necessary to ask Bayancuk the following questions:

Is what is in accordance with religion and custom the betrothal of a six-year-old child? According to Bayancuk, does religion, and therefore God, command the marriage of children? Does he truly believe this?

If so, are child marriages also being performed in the Tevhid and Sünnet Cemaati (Tawhid and Sunnah Community), known in the public eye as Bayancuk’s community, on the grounds of “accordance with religion and custom”? Are weddings also held at similar ages?

If this is not the case, and if betrothals and marriages take place at adult ages, then is Bayancuk and the structure he belongs to acting against religion and custom?

The answers to these questions challenge not only the world of a specific mindset but also the social order that such a mindset would establish. This is because the understanding in question, while rejecting democracy by citing religious references, also targets the democratic way of life.

Moreover, the message conveyed is quite clear: If the country were being governed in the way they envision, neither would these individuals be tried, nor would these marriages be subject to legal scrutiny.

It is difficult to find a clearer example to demonstrate what kind of social order a regime promises.