Diyanet's spending spree continues: The amount spent on calendars is staggering

The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) continues to be one of the institutions frequently in the public eye due to its expenditures. This time, the massive budget allocated for calendars to be printed for the year 2026 has drawn attention. Under the contract signed with İhlas Gazetecilik AŞ, Diyanet will pay 83 million 979 thousand TL to have 3 million 255 thousand calendars printed.

According to a report in the Sözcü newspaper, 61 million 677 thousand liras had been paid for the calendars prepared for the year 2025. Thus, there has been an increase of approximately 22 million liras in spending with just a one-year difference.

CONTRACT SIGNED ON JULY 17

The General Directorate of Religious Publications, affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs, held a tender for the printing of the new calendars on June 24, 2025. The winner of the tender was İhlas Gazetecilik AŞ, known for its public publications. The contract was signed on July 17, 2025.

The materials to be printed under the contract are as follows:

3 million 100 thousand block calendars

130 thousand Diyanet Children's calendars

15 thousand block calendar stands

10 thousand calligraphic calendars

A total of 3 million 255 thousand calendars will be printed within 2025 and made ready for distribution in 2026.

282 MILLION LIRAS SPENT ON CALENDARS IN 9 YEARS

Even just the calendar expenditures of Diyanet continue to be a subject of debate in recent years. The total budget allocated for calendar printing between 2018 and 2026 has reached 282 million 125 thousand liras. This figure surpasses the stationery or promotional budgets of many ministries.

DİYANET AT THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSY

Diyanet, which frequently makes headlines with its choices during national holidays and the expressions used in its sermons, is also at the center of criticism regarding the use of public resources. Printing jobs carried out with massive budgets, in particular, are reigniting debates in the public sphere regarding transparency and priorities.

WHEN WILL THE NEW CALENDARS BE PRINTED?

All of these new calendars for the year 2026 will be printed and made ready by the end of 2025. Distribution will take place at the beginning of 2026.