Religious authority files complaint against journalist Altaylı over 'orphaned children' tweet

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The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has filed a criminal complaint against journalist Fatih Altaylı, who had criticized the agency over a religious order about children who lost their parents in the February 6 earthquakes.

Filing the complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Diyanet alleged that the renowned journalist had "grossly insulted" the presidency and its staff.

On Friday (February 17), Altaylı tweeted, "We understand that you are real perverts, but what do you have to do with an institution like Diyanet? Perverts. Go get into the porn industry. Do not profane the institution that Atatürk founded so that the nation would be given proper religious information."

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Altaylı was one of many people who criticized Diyanet because of a fatwa, or a religious order, that there was no obstacle to the marriage between a person and their adopted child.

The fatwa was removed from Diyanet's website on February 17 after public outrage.

In its petition of complaint, Diyanet further alleged that Altaylı, with his tweet, provoked the public against the institution, and was engaged in "disinformation against Diyanet and state institutions." (Mİ/VK)