Diyanet targeted Deniz Göktaş without naming him in Friday sermon: 'Distancing our children'

The Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı) General Directorate of Religious Services published the Friday sermon under the title "Summer Quran Courses."

The sermon noted that as of last week children had completed an academic year and entered the summer period, and stated that "children receiving a good education is of great importance for society and the future."

The sermon expressed that what truly makes a person valuable is the ability to preserve one's faith alongside one's knowledge, and one's morality alongside one's achievements. It conveyed that the Prophet Muhammad drew attention to this matter with the counsel: "No parent has given their child a more precious gift than a good upbringing."

"Deviant currents"

Addressing parents, the sermon stated: "The culture of consumption brought by the modern age, the unconscious use of digital platforms, and the occasional mockery of our sacred values under the guise of humour are distancing our children from our values day by day. Pure young minds face the risk of being lost in the whirlpool of superstitions, deviant currents, addiction, and peer bullying." 

The sermon expressed that society is not helpless in the face of these threats, and that the remedy is to bring together children with knowledge and wisdom that speak to minds and hearts in the finest way.

What happened?

An investigation was launched on Saturday, 29 June against comedian Deniz Göktaş, whose stand-up show titled "Ölü Deniz" (Dead Sea), performed at the Harbiye Open-Air Theatre, had dominated the national agenda.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the grounds for the investigation were "insulting religious values."

Deniz Göktaş's "Ölü Deniz" show was watched 9 million times in eight days, and calls for his arrest were made, particularly from circles close to the government.

News Source: 12punto