Turkey Diyanet emphasis on Islamic civilization

In late July 2026 Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) announced that the nationwide Friday sermon would be dedicated to the theme “Islamic Civilization”, highlighting the religion’s scientific, architectural, and moral contributions and urging believers to act as stewards of the earth. The sermon also marked the anniversary of Hagia Sophia’s reopening as a mosque, underscoring its symbolic importance for the Turkish Muslim community.

Two days later, Diyanet chief Safi Arpaguş, appointed in September 2025, sparked controversy by reassigning senior officials to high‑pay overseas religious service posts, a move described as an “escort scandal”. In a separate public appearance, Arpaguş reiterated the celebration of Hagia Sophia’s reopening, portraying the monument as a timeless symbol of Islamic civilization and linking its history to the 1453 conquest of Istanbul.

Together, the snapshots illustrate a coordinated Diyanet effort to promote Islamic civilizational heritage domestically through sermons while simultaneously projecting the narrative abroad through high‑profile appointments and speeches that feature Hagia Sophia as a central emblem.