Statement from the Diyanet, which drew backlash over its inheritance sermon: 'Nothing that is not based on the Quran...'
President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş spoke about the criticisms directed at recent sermons. Stating that the sermons are interpreted based on hearsay, Erbaş said, "Nothing that is not based on the Quran is included in the sermons."
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Recently, the Friday sermons of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) have sparked intense public debate. While statements regarding women's share in inheritance caused a major stir, the sermon claiming that "it is a violation of rights for women not to accept half the inheritance" became the focal point of these criticisms.
"SERMONS ARE CRITICIZED WITHOUT BEING READ"
President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş made statements regarding the criticisms. Expressing that the sermons are often evaluated based on hearsay without being read in full, Erbaş used the following words:
"The sermons are probably not being read. People are acting on hearsay. The criticisms likely stem from this."
Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk brought the controversial sermons to his column and relayed the questions he directed directly to the President of Religious Affairs. Öztürk stated that he asked Erbaş "why there is so much criticism."
"NOTHING THAT IS NOT BASED ON THE QURAN IS IN THE SERMONS"
In his response regarding the source of the criticisms, Erbaş stated that the fundamental basis of the sermons is the Quran and said the following:
"I am sending you the latest sermons. Nothing that is not based on the Quran or that should not be told to Muslims is included in the sermons."