Turkey's Diyanet spends near 1 million TL on luxury hotel meeting

The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) held a five‑day gathering at the five‑star Eliz Hotel in Kızılcahamam, about 68 km north of Ankara. Around 70 senior officials, including President Safi Arpaguş, attended. The event’s daily expenses – accommodation, per‑diem, travel and organization – were reported at roughly 1 million Turkish lira, amounting to about 10 million TL for the whole meeting, despite the Diyanet’s Friday sermon urging believers to avoid waste.

In a separate appearance, President Safi Arpaguş visited Gümüşhane for the “Yedisi Bir Yerleşkede” program, stressing the Diyanet’s role in guiding society according to Qur’anic principles and Islamic ethics. He met with Governor Cevdet Atay, local muftis, and children attending Qur’an courses, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to religious education and moral values across all age groups.