Istanbul Governor's Office issues directive to public institutions regarding Friday prayers

The Istanbul Governor's Office has sent a directive to public institutions in the city aimed at resolving various practices and disruptions regarding the permission granted to employees in public institutions to attend Friday prayers.

In the directive sent under the signature of Governor Davut Gül, it was stated: "With the Prime Ministry Personnel and Principles General Directorate Circular No. 2016/1, and as a requirement of the freedom of religious belief guaranteed by the Constitution and relevant legislation, it was previously notified through our relevant correspondence that those working in public institutions and organizations who wish to attend Friday prayers are granted leave without causing a loss of working time if the prayer time coincides with working hours."

However, the directive noted that there are certain disruptions in practice, and that different applications such as taking personnel names and signatures, or adding leave hours to weekday working hours are being observed, and the following was recorded:

"The spirit of the circular, as a requirement of the freedom of religious belief, is that going to worship should not be hindered, and the expression 'without causing loss of working time' refers to ensuring that work is not disrupted by keeping a sufficient number of personnel on duty, just as in administrative leave. In this context, I kindly request that you take note of and implement the Prime Ministry Personnel and Principles General Directorate Circular No. 2016/1 in accordance with the explanations above."