Former President of Religious Affairs passes away

Former President of Religious Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Research and Dissemination of Islamic Sciences (İSİLAY), Lütfi Doğan, has passed away.

According to the information provided, Doğan, who was receiving treatment at Başkent University Ankara Hospital, closed his eyes to the world at the age of 93.

Born in 1930 in the village of Salyazı in the Köse district of Gümüşhane, Doğan received his initial Quranic education from his father, Mehmet Fehmi Efendi, and completed his memorization (hifz) in 1942 under his uncle, Kurra Hafız Fevzi Efendi. He received his license (ijazah) after studying religious sciences such as tajwid, qira'at, and Arabic under the guidance of leading scholars of the time. He completed his primary, middle, and high school education externally. Upon returning from military service, he began his duty as an imam-hatip in the Özcan neighborhood of Gümüşhane's central district. In 1954, he passed the mufti examination organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs and served as a mufti, deputy mufti, and preacher in various cities.

HE BECAME PRESIDENT OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS IN 1968

During his tenure in Ankara, he graduated first in his class from the Ankara University Faculty of Divinity in 1965. While serving as a member of the High Board of Religious Affairs, he was appointed as the Vice President of Religious Affairs. Doğan, who was appointed as the acting President of Religious Affairs on January 15, 1968, held this position until August 25, 1972. Later, he entered politics upon the invitation of Necmettin Erbakan, the founder of the National View (Milli Görüş) movement and a former prime minister. He served two terms as an Erzurum Senator for the National Salvation Party (MSP) between 1973 and 1980.

Doğan, who was detained for 8 months at the Kirazlıdere Detention Center during the 1980 military coup period, served in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as a Gümüşhane Deputy for three terms starting in 1991. Fluent in Arabic, Persian, and French, Doğan founded the association named İSİLAY with a group of friends in 1987. Despite his age, Doğan continued his educational activities at the foundation's institutions in Keçiören and Balgat, where he served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

News Source: 12punto