That religious community reacts to the new head of Religious Affairs: 'An imam who recites mawlid for Atatürk...'

With an appointment decision signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published in the Official Gazette the previous day, Istanbul Provincial Mufti Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş was appointed as the President of Religious Affairs. While discussions regarding the appointment decision continue, the criticisms coming particularly from Salafi structures and religious communities have drawn attention.

Immediately following Arpaguş's appointment to the Presidency of Religious Affairs, İsmail Oruç, one of the prominent figures of the Tevhid and Sünnet community, targeted Arpaguş's recitation of a mawlid for Atatürk at an event on November 10 in a post on his social media account.

ARPAGUŞ HAD RECITED A MAWLID FOR ATATÜRK ON NOVEMBER 10

Arpaguş's name had come to the agenda again on November 10, 2023. During a mawlid program held at the Dolmabahçe Bezmi Alem Valide Sultan Mosque in Istanbul, Arpaguş and the mosque congregation prayed for the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms. This action by Arpaguş was met with great reaction, especially by Salafi groups.

Arpaguş's participation in the mawlid program held for Atatürk became a subject of debate again following his appointment to the Presidency of Religious Affairs. İsmail Oruç's statements further fueled this situation.

İsmail Oruç, one of the prominent figures of the Salafi Tevhid and Sünnet community, harshly criticized Safi Arpaguş's recitation of a mawlid for Atatürk on November 10 in a statement he made on social media. Oruç used the expressions, "The imam who recited a mawlid for Atatürk on November 10 has become the President of Religious Affairs! Unfortunately, names that make one miss the previous ones are brought to the Presidency of Religious Affairs every time."

Oruç emphasized that after Arpaguş's appointment, the Diyanet is gradually moving away from the essence of Islam and added: "Thus, the institution is being increasingly distanced from the essence of Islam. With this trajectory, the government will return the public to the point where it started, that is, to Kemalism. But this time, Kemalism is not just as an ideology; it is in a way where its love has been instilled in hearts and its ideology has been adopted..."

"KEMALISM WILL TAKE ROOT AGAIN WITH THE HELP OF THE GOVERNMENT"

Continuing his criticisms, İsmail Oruç commented, "The CHP mentality failed to transform this public for 80 years. But the government, which 'appears to be one of us,' succeeded in bringing the public to the point desired by the system in a short time."