New Diyanet President Safi Arpaguş's first test: What will happen to the name exiled during the Ali Erbaş era?

32-year-old İmam Yusuf Kılıç, serving in İzmir, was called by AKP Buca District Executive İhsan Sabır before President Erdoğan's İzmir Gündoğdu Square rally on April 29, 2023, and was asked to take his congregation to the rally. Kılıç refused this request.

Following the incident, which became a topic of discussion on social media, the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) launched an investigation. Kılıç was reassigned to another mosque on May 29.

KILIÇ'S "I DO NOT LIE" RESPONSE

It was alleged that Diyanet officials asked Kılıç to record a video stating that AKP executives did not call him and that he apologized. It was claimed that he was warned that otherwise, the imam would be dismissed. Kılıç did not accept this request, saying, "I am a man of religion, I do not lie."

As a result of the investigation, Diyanet gave Kılıç a "stoppage of step advancement" penalty on the grounds that he "damaged the trust the public feels toward religious officials." Additionally, Kılıç was exiled to a village outside of İzmir.

Imam Kılıç took the penalty he received to the administrative court. The court ruled that the "stoppage of step advancement penalty was unlawful" and canceled the penalty.

PENALTY FINALIZED

However, a new investigation was launched upon the instruction of the previous Diyanet President Ali Erbaş. On August 20, 2025, Kılıç's objection was rejected, and the penalty was finalized this time. Kılıç was given a reprimand on the grounds of "damaging public trust."

The stance that the newly appointed Diyanet President Safi Arpaguş will take regarding Imam Kılıç, who was penalized through the investigation initiated by Ali Erbaş, has become a matter of public curiosity.