Propaganda-laced sermons distance Turks from the mosque

In recent years, the politically-charged character of the sermons read in mosques in Turkey has resulted in a backlash from worshipers, many of whom have ceased to go to the mosque.

Filiz Gazi / Duvar English

In recent years, the politically-charged character of the sermons read in mosques during the Friday prayer in Turkey has resulted in a backlash from worshipers, many of whom have opted to cease going to the mosque, according to theologians who spoke to Duvar English.

The reading of sermons in mosques during the Friday prayer has been a tradition in Muslim countries dating back to the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622. In the Ottoman empire, sermons were read in Arabic and the first Turkish sermon was read in the city of Bursa in 1911.

Today, Friday prayer sermons in Turkey are prepared by the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), and frequently feature content concerning women, the family and sexuality. One Friday sermon from September 13 dealt with the abortion, and included the following lines: “From the moment of reaching the mother’s womb until death, every life is important. Due to Islamic law and moral guidelines, unless the birth of a baby poses a threat to the life of the mother, the baby cannot be aborted for arbitrary reasons.”

Another Friday sermon from July 5 took aim at transgender people : “Interfering with one’s gender and engaging in efforts that lead toward genderlessness results in a disaster not just for the individual but for an entire generation. To act as if choosing one’s gender is an area of freedom is to disregard divine will and is a deviation from service,” read part of the sermon.

According to theologian Cemil Kılıç, the Friday prayer sermon in Turkey has been transformed from an Islamic ritual into a political ritual. “The Friday prayers are not conducted with the consent of Allah but rather for the enjoyment of the [ruling Justice and Development] AKP and for the approval of the president,” Kılıç said.

“They are increasing polarization in Turkey and strengthening the “us versus them” mentality,” said Kılıç when asked how the sermons are affecting the masses. As a result, a certain segment of society is no longer attending Friday prayer in Turkey.

“In particular, members of a mosque community who do not vote for the AKP no longer prefer to attend Friday prayers. They do not want to listen to political propaganda. For example, I perform my daily prayers but for the Friday prayer I have not been going to the mosque for nearly ten years,” Kılıç said, adding that imams who do not want to read the sermons provided for them can be removed from their positions.

“There must be pulpits that are free and independent. The government must not interfere with what it is said at the mosque,” said theologian İhsan Eliaçık, who added that a sermon should be prepared individually by an imam’s mosque.

According to Kemal Türksoy, the former deputy mufti of the province of Zonguldak, the Friday sermon is published on an unofficial website operated by the Diyanet.

“Everyone can read it before Friday. If an imam deviates from this sermon, the community can complain since it is following these sermons,” Türksoy said.

Türksoy said he was removed from his position by the Diyanet because of a prayer he read for the founder of the Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, prior to the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s day holiday. For this, he was accused of conducting politics at the mosque. Türksoy added that the Diyanet harbors anti-Atatürk sentiment.

“The sermon read in the [central Ankara] Kocatepe mosque is the same one read in the villages. The cultural level of the communities at different mosques is not the same. For this reason mosques must be independent. Imams must be trusted, and they must be brave,” Türksoy said.