Who speaks for Islam in Turkey?
Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate is under scrutiny.
On May 3, the head of Diyanet (the Religious Affairs Department) Mehmet Gormez attended the panel “Youth Forum on Attachment, Transformation and the Future” organized by the Diyanet Foundation's Women, Youth and Family Center (KAGEM) and the Political, Economic and Social Research Center (SETA).
What would have been a routine gathering made headlines because Gormez said, “Today’s youth perceives the previous generation’s world as limited and unacceptable. We must acknowledge their perceptions and find a new language to approach them. They resist intervention into their private lives. For example, they ask us if earrings (for men) and tattoos are acceptable. We need to step away from inflexibility and approach them rationally.”
This was quite a surprising statement from Gormez and was received positively by liberal pundits. A prominent columnist from the daily Hurriyet, Ahmet Hakan wrote, “I have criticized Gormez many times, but now he spoke up and stated there is no need to meddle with anyone’s beard, tattoo or looks. Now I say: This is super, perfect, magnificent.”
Not everyone appreciated Gormez’s words. For example, Yeni Akit, an ultra-conservative daily, in a harshly worded statement said, “If Ahmet Hakan is referring to Gormez’s statement as superb, Gormez must evaluate and revise his words.”
