Feminist author Berrin Sönmez removes her headscarf

Feminist author Berrin Sönmez reacted sharply to the latest Friday sermon published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs. While the sermon targeted women's clothing styles and social freedoms, Sönmez removed her headscarf.

REACTION AGAINST THE DİYANET SERMON

The Friday sermon, published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs on August 1, 2025, and read in all mosques across Turkey's 81 provinces, sparked controversy, particularly due to its remarks regarding women's clothing styles. The sermon characterized the presence of women in public spaces in "inappropriate attire" as "primitiveness" and stated that remaining silent on this issue constitutes a great sin. The sermon emphasized that "everyone who remains silent while moral and decency standards are violated bears a great burden," stressing that the responsibility to protect the chastity of society belongs to everyone.

SÖNMEZ SHOWED HER REBELLION BY REMOVING HER HEADSCARF

In a sharp reaction to the Diyanet's sermon, Berrin Sönmez announced that she would remove her headscarf and appeared on a live Medyascope broadcast without it. Sönmez stated, "We must respect women's rights over their own bodies and decisions. Today, I have fired a flare; I have thrown my headscarf under the feet of the Diyanet and the government."