Diyanet's Atatürk message disturbs pro-government circles: Yeni Akit now targets Safi Arpaguş!

It was noted that Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was included in the congratulatory message published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs for the 102nd anniversary of the Republic. The following statements were used in Diyanet's message:

“On this occasion, we commemorate with respect and gratitude all our elders who have worked to elevate our state from the past to the present, especially the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. We pray to Almighty Allah for mercy upon our noble ancestors who fought to make these lands our homeland, our dear martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this cause, and our heroic veterans who have passed into the afterlife.”

The reactionary newspaper Yeni Akit, known for its pro-government stance and partisan reporting, reacted to Diyanet's message. The newspaper's headline read, "Kemalists praised Diyanet." The report criticized CHP members for supporting Diyanet due to its emphasis on Atatürk.

The newspaper report included the following statements:

“CHP members, who spewed hatred toward former Diyanet President Prof. Ali Erbaş for courageously expressing Islamic truths during his eight years in office, were pleased with the routine statement made every year following the change in Diyanet leadership.”

“CHP members, who portrayed the mention of Atatürk's name in the ‘Republic’ post shared by the Presidency of Religious Affairs on social media as an extraordinary development, cast aspersions on the previous President by saying, ‘Ali Erbaş is gone, what needed to be done has been done.’”

Changes made within the institution following the appointment of the new President of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, who took over from Ali Erbaş, had drawn attention. One of Arpaguş's first actions was to reduce the number of security personnel, and a simplification process was also initiated regarding official vehicles.

It was learned that the three Mercedes passenger cars and one VIP Mercedes used in the previous term were replaced by the domestically produced TOGG and Passat vehicles found in the institution's garage. Additionally, it was stated that Arpaguş had given instructions for an “emergency general assembly” regarding certain administrative issues that occurred during the Erbaş era.

Following these changes, Diyanet's October 29 message became a target for Yeni Akit.

Yeni Akit News Manager Zekeriya Say also brought the issue to the agenda in his column. Say, who previously faced backlash for his posts following the death of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek in an accident, wrote an article titled, “Diyanet has finally made the CHP happy!”

In his article, Say first criticized the CHP while praising Ali Erbaş, and then targeted the new Diyanet administration. The article included the following statements:

“Because the phrase ‘the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’ was included in the message published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs for the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the Republic, as is customary every holiday, the CHP members celebrated.”

“Congratulatory posts were made saying, ‘This is what would befit our Presidency of Religious Affairs, which Atatürk himself founded.’ In light of past events, I also congratulate the new Diyanet administration, which gave the CHP a double celebration on October 29... I wonder if I made myself clear?”