Formation | 3 March 1924 |
---|---|
Type | Islamic and religious education, administration of religious places |
Headquarters | Ankara, Turkey |
Location | |
Official language | Turkish |
President | Ali Erbaş |
Budget | $2 billion (2020)[1] |
Website | Official website |
The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Turkish: Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, commonly referred to as the Diyanet or DIB) is a state institution established in 1924 by the founding president of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.[2] Initially created to manage religious duties which was previously overseen by the abolished Chiefdom of Islamic/Muslim Community (Shaykh al-Islām) before the establishment of the republic during the Ottoman Empire era,[3] it later gained formal recognition under Article 136 of the Turkish constitution.[4] The President of Religious Affairs effectively serves as the Grand Mufti of Turkey. This role is supported by a 16-member council elected from among clerics and university theology faculty.[5]
As specified by law, the duties of the Diyanet are “to administer the affairs related to faith and worship of the religion of Islam”.[3] The Diyanet drafts a weekly sermon delivered at the nation's 85,000 mosques and more than 2,000 mosques abroad that function under the directorate. It provides Quranic education for children and trains and employs all of Turkey's imams, who are considered civil servants.[6]
Starting from 2006, the Diyanet was fortified, by 2015 its budget had increased four-fold,[7][8] and staff doubled to nearly 150,000.[7] Its 2019 budget has been estimated at €1.7 billion ($1.87 billion), far exceeding that of most Turkish government ministries.[9] It has 1,000 branches across Turkey and offers educational, cultural and charitable activities in 145 countries.[9] Diyanet TV was launched in 2012,[10] now broadcasting 24 hours a day.[7] It has expanded Quranic education to early ages and boarding schools – "enabling the full immersion of young children in a religious lifestyle"[10] – and now issues fatwa (Turkish: fetva) on demand.
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