Criminal complaint filed by the Secularism Assembly against Chief Advisor to the President Oktay Saral: Here are the accusations against Saral

The last three sermons published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) contained controversial statements regarding women's freedom of dress, inheritance rights, and vacation culture.

In the Friday sermon titled "Modesty: God's Command, a Requirement of Human Nature," read in mosques by Diyanet on August 1, it was stated that "wearing short or transparent clothing is a violation of God's command to cover up, regardless of where or for what purpose, and is forbidden (haram)," thereby targeting women's freedom of dress.

In the August 8 Friday sermon titled "A Vacation Blessed by Maintaining Kinship Ties," the topic of vacations was addressed, arguing that modern vacation activities have become a state of disobedience to God's commands, and that it would be more appropriate to visit relatives, especially parents, during vacations.

WOMEN'S CIVIL INHERITANCE RIGHTS TARGETED

In the August 14 Friday sermon read in mosques by Diyanet titled "Violating the Rights of Others is a Shirt of Fire," it was stated: "Changing the inheritance measure set by our Almighty Lord without mutual consent is contrary to divine justice. Therefore, a person depriving their daughters of inheritance, and daughters not being content with the right ordained by God, is a violation of the rights of others."

Since it is known that according to this religious interpretation, women's inheritance rights are half those of men, this sermon targeted the egalitarian approach to inheritance.

While the sermons published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs drew significant backlash, Chief Advisor to the President Oktay Saral attacked these reactions with harsh words in a statement he made on social media.

The Secularism Assembly has filed a criminal complaint against Oktay Saral with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Here is the text of the criminal complaint filed via UYAP:

TO THE ANKARA CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

COMPLAINANT 

:

ADDRESS :

SUSPECTS               : 1- Oktay Saral, Chief Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey, Ankara

                                       2- Owners of the posts and comments to be identified during the investigation

CHARGES                        :Incitement to commit a crime (Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, Art. 214)

                                        Praising a crime and a criminal (Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, Art. 215)

                                         Inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting (Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, Art. 216)

                                         Incitement to disobey the law (Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, Art. 217)

                                         Abuse of office (Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, Art. 257)

DATE OF OFFENSE                  :August 16, 2025

STATEMENTS

1. With Law No. 429, one of the three revolution laws enacted on March 3, 1924, the Ministry of Sharia and Foundations was abolished and the Presidency of Religious Affairs was established. 

2. Officials of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, while performing their duties, are obligated to act in accordance with the principle of secularism in Article 2 of the Constitution, Article 24 regarding freedom of belief and worship, and Article 136, which is the constitutional basis of this institution, and must not act in violation of Law No. 633, which was enacted in observance of these articles.

3. In the Friday sermon delivered by the Presidency of Religious Affairs on August 1, 2025, women's attire was addressed; in the Friday sermon on August 8, 2025, the subject of vacations was discussed; and in the sermon on August 15, 2025, under the title 'The rights of others are a shirt of fire,' statements were made that also included women's inheritance rights. (APPENDIX 01)

4. The aforementioned Friday sermons were approached with the understanding that personal and social life, and indeed all rights and freedoms, should be interpreted and exercised according to the rules of the Islamic religion, and therefore, they were conducted in violation of the secular legal order. While doing so, as experts have also pointed out, religious rules were not interpreted in accordance with reality. (APPENDIX 02)

5. The Friday sermons dated August 1, 2025, August 8, 2025, and August 15, 2025, some of which are shown above, fall outside the rules of freedom of belief and worship and clearly conflict with the principle of secularism. They contain content that disrupts national solidarity and integration. 

6. Although the Presidency of Religious Affairs, as an institution of the revolution, should perform its duties in line with the principle of secularism, it has become a state organ that exhibits the most contrary behavior to this principle, acts as a focal point of opposition to secularism, and violates the constitution the most. 

7. The Presidency of Religious Affairs has carried these violations to such a level that in the sermon dated August 15, 2025, it was even stated, in violation of secularism, the principle of equality, and the Turkish Civil Code, that girls should receive half the share of inheritance (as in the provisions of Faraid). Even if the texts in question are published under the name of a 'Friday sermon,' their content clearly constitutes a crime in terms of criminal law.

8. The suspect, who is a Chief Presidential Advisor, posted the following on his X social media account on August 16, 2025:

"The well-known mentality is attacking and railing against the Friday sermons prepared by our Presidency of Religious Affairs. Oh, you heedless ones! The religion of Islam is not a religion that you can bend and twist according to your whims; engrave this well into your thick skulls! While the Holy Quran, the guide to guidance sent by our Lord, reveals the clear truths with every verse, you plug your ears to this, close your eyes, and live in your darkness of misguidance. Allah's decrees will remain valid until the Day of Judgment; neither you nor your dirty ambitions will be able to darken this truth!" (ANNEX.03) The post specifically addressed three Friday sermons that were on the agenda. 

9. In the post, the limits of freedom of expression were exceeded, those who defend secularism were belittled and humiliated by being addressed as "heedless ones," the public was openly incited to hatred and hostility, and the validity of Sharia provisions was unequivocally defended.

10. Regarding the first three Friday sermons in August, which were even the subject of criminal complaints, the suspect, who holds the title of Chief Presidential Advisor, went even further and did not refrain from saying "Sharia until the Day of Judgment."

11. Even Bülent Arınç, a member of the ruling party, while attempting to say on his X social media account on August 17, 2025, that these three Friday sermons did not conflict with the law in terms of the President of Religious Affairs, stated, "If he had said 'This system should be abandoned and the system I described should be mandatory for everyone,' this would have been an act contrary to secularism." By saying "Sharia until the Day of Judgment," the suspect went far beyond even the words of Bülent Arınç. (ANNEX.04/ Paragraph 3-last sentence)

12. While the statement made was seen by 384,000 people on the suspect's own X account on August 17, 2025, it was seen by 540,000 people a very short time later on August 20, 2025. The number of comments, shares, and likes increased in parallel. 

13. The statement subject to the application, when considering the suspect's title and duty, the audience he addresses, his power to influence this audience, and the content, is a statement that is incompatible with public duty, violates the Constitution, constitutes a crime, and is of a nature to create a clear and imminent danger to public order.

14. The suspect's statement constitutes the crimes of incitement to commit a crime (Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, Art. 214), praising a crime and a criminal (TPC No. 5237, Art. 215), inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting them (TPC No. 5237, Art. 216), incitement to disobey laws (TPC No. 5237, Art. 217), and abuse of office (TPC No. 5237, Art. 257).

15. An indictment must be prepared due to the concrete accusation presented.

16. The same responsibility applies to those who shared the suspect's statement and commented on it in an affirmative manner. The individuals mentioned must be identified immediately to ensure that evidence is not lost.

CONCLUSION AND REQUEST

For the reasons stated above, I request and pray that a preliminary investigation be conducted and an indictment be prepared against the relevant parties.

Respectfully. August 20, 2025