Istanbul Governor Orders Prayer Rooms in All Schools

Istanbul Governor school prayer rooms mescit directive education policy Friday prayer

The Istanbul Governor's Office sent an official letter to the 39 district governorships and the Ministry of National Education directing that all schools provide dedicated prayer rooms (mescit). The instruction requires new school projects to include space for Friday congregational prayers and existing schools to convert suitable areas into mescit for collective worship. It is framed as meeting the religious needs of students and education staff, citing legal provisions in the Ministry of Education’s regulations on school establishment and operation. The directive aims to allow safe, on‑site worship and reduce the need for students to leave school premises during prayer times.

Entities: District governorships of Istanbul · Istanbul Governor's Office · Istanbul Governor’s Office · Istanbul district governorships · Istanbul schools · Ministry of National Education (Turkey) · School mescit (prayer room)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] The circular ordered the conversion of existing school spaces into Friday‑prayer rooms. (Istanbul Governor’s Office circular)
[● 2 SOURCES] The directive applies to all schools in Istanbul. (Istanbul Governor’s Office circular)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Istanbul Governor’s Office sent a circular to the 39 district governorships and other institutions ordering the allocation of prayer spaces in new school projects. (Istanbul Governor’s Office circular)
[● 2 SOURCES] The purpose of the order is to meet students’ and education staff’s worship needs while minimizing leaving school grounds. (Istanbul Governor’s Office circular)
[● 2 SOURCES] The directive cites the Ministry of National Education Regulation No. 5 (c) and Regulation No. 81 article 6 as its legal basis. (Istanbul Governor’s Office circular)