Prof. Mehmet Görmez New Head of Religious Affairs

Prof. Ali Bardakoğlu, former Head of the Department for Religious Affairs, was at odds with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdopan after the Prime Minister had he said "We shall ask the Department of Religious Affairs about the solving of the headscarf problem", Bardakoğlu stated, "I told Minister Çelik that I was going to leave". His deputy Prof. Mehmet Görmez was appointed as his successor. Hüseyin Çelik is the current Deputy Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), former Minister of Education.

Prof. B Bardakoğlu, who was at odds with the government about the issues of headscarf and Alevi Policies referred to Atatürk and the Department for Religious Affairs being evaluated as institutions of the Republic. Regarding the issue of the headscarf he had stated, "The Department of Religious Affairs does not release views upon request. Its opinion is known. Headscarf is a religious request but not its prerequisite. Politics is the basis for a solution. It is the Parliament's duty to define the lines of individual freedoms. It is unfair in terms of laicism if laicism and the headscarf issue are made to confront each other.

Bardakoğlu bid farewell

Regarding allegations that he was dismissed from duty, Bardakoğlu replied in his farewell speech, "Last November I had told Minister Çelik that the time for change of guard had come. It was me who initially requested that a new team would be appropriate.

"The relationship between religion, law, ethics and politics was not always easy to understand and it was not easy to understand the connections. Those who don't know the religion's universal call of existence think that religion is a reality of daily life. But all the verses we listen to advise us to be /bound to one reality", Bardakoğlu stated.

Who is Mehmet Görmez?

Prof. Görmez was born in Gaziantep in 1959. After graduating from the Gaziantep Prayer Leader and Preacher School, he started at the Ankara University Faculty of Religion in 1983.

Working as a lecturer of Quran Courses in Kırıkkale, then as a prayer leader and preacher in different districts in Ankara, Prof. Dr. Görmez finished his PhD with his thesis entitled "Problem of Methodology in Understanding and Commenting of Circumcision and the Sayings of Prophet Mohammad".

Görmez was teaching at the Ahmet Yesevi University Theology Faculty between 1995 and 1997. From 1997 to 1998 he was living in the UK for research.

He became a full professor in 2006. Görmez, married and father of three children, was appointed as Vice President of the Department of Religious Affairs in 2003.

Working for clearing up the sayings of the prophet

Görmez was criticized by the religious environment because of the "Thematic Project of the Sayings of Prophet Mohammad" initiated by the Department of Religious Affairs. Journalist Mehmet Şevket Eygi wrote about the project, "The Department for Religious Affairs is sorting out the Sayings of Prophet Mohammad together with 80 experts. The Department for Religious Affairs is making a revolution. Muslims! Wonderful, you sleep standing but they are not sleeping; they work night and day to sort out the sayings of the prophet".

Görmez replied, "Being convinced that such a thing is true or even imagining it is harmful. These are severe allegations and defamations. Overlooking your sayings, you are provoking sincere Muslims against the Department of Religious Affairs with defamation, a diminishing manner and imaginary allegations". (BT/EÖ/VK)