Notable proposal from HÜDA PAR regarding Friday prayers

The Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR), known for its proximity to Hezbollah, has submitted a legislative proposal to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey aimed at allowing employees to take time off during Friday prayer hours. If the proposal is enacted, those working in both the public and private sectors will be granted leave during the time of Friday prayers.

The proposal, which bears the signatures of Chairman and Istanbul Deputy Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, along with Gaziantep Deputy Şahzade Demir, Batman Deputy Serkan Ramanlı, and Mersin Deputy Faruk Dinç, includes amendments to the Civil Servants Law and the Labor Law. This regulation aims to grant employees the legal right to take leave during the time of Friday prayers.

The following assessments were included in the justification for the proposal:

"Although the Constitution, which views it as the state's duty to prepare the necessary conditions for the development of a person's material and spiritual existence, provides for the freedom of worship, religious rites, and ceremonies, there can be problems and difficulties for employees in both the public and private sectors in fulfilling their worship. These problems and difficulties increase, especially when Friday prayers coincide with working hours, and it is sometimes impossible for employees to perform the Friday prayer, which they are required to fulfill due to their beliefs.

This situation causes negative consequences not only for the individual's spiritual existence and development and inner peace but also for labor peace and work efficiency. Taking into account social demands and needs, a legal regulation has been proposed to make it possible to perform the Friday prayer, which is an important act of worship, if it coincides with working hours. Thus, it is aimed to strengthen the exercise of the freedom of worship under constitutional guarantee, to ensure the development of the individual's spiritual existence, and to ensure social peace and labor peace."

News Source: 12punto