Levent Kenez/Stockholm
Ali Erbaş, head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Turkey’s top religious authority, suggested that Muslims who continue using Israeli products or products from companies that support Israel should question their faith. Erbaş implied that bringing such boycott-targeted products into one’s home could undermine that person’s religious identity.
“Our oppressed brothers and sisters are in Gaza and around the world,” said Erbaş in a speech after the prayer at Ankara Millet Mosque on March 5. “Al-Aqsa Mosque is all alone during this holy month of Ramadan. Let us pray that Allah grants Al-Aqsa its liberation as soon as possible. But of course, this will happen through the efforts of believers. If we, as Muslims, make an effort, there are 2 billion of us worldwide. If 2 billion Muslims unite, then liberation will come to Al-Aqsa, to Gaza, to the Palestinians. This is what we must proclaim to the whole world. We must do everything we can to bring Muslims together in unity.”
Erbaş then urged strict adherence to boycotts targeting Israeli-linked products, saying, “If a Muslim supports those who back oppressors, if they do not comply with the boycott, if they still bring boycotted products into their homes, they should question their faith.”
Following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel launched what has been described as a disproportionate response. Islamist groups in Turkey called for a boycott of Israeli-made or Israeli-owned products, citing the killings of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza. However, there is no official government-endorsed list of banned products, and boycott efforts remain largely driven by social media campaigns. (LK:new)
In a meeting on November 16, 2023 the top government imam announced that the Diyanet had decided to endorse a boycott of companies supporting Israel and called on the Turkish people to join in. However, no information had been shared regarding what these products were.
Following public criticism in response to protests against Israel, the Erdogan government was compelled to adopt a tougher stance and announced on April 9, 2024 that it would impose trade restrictions on Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza. However, official statistics shows that trade with Israel continues through third countries and Palestine. It has also been reported in the media that businesspeople close to the government are still conducting trade with Israel.
Erbaş previously compared the Jews of the past to their modern descendants, suggesting they engage in destruction and conspiracies. According to Erbaş, the ongoing events in Gaza expose the true nature of those who seek to portray themselves as the masters of the world, unveiling a dark reality behind their façade. He argued that protests for humanity, law and morality are meaningless to these corrupt individuals and their supporters.
Erbaş had highlighted Quranic references to the forefathers of Israel, stating these passages illuminate the mindset of those he views as disruptors. “Just as they then, today the descendants of those troublemakers, the descendants of those corrupt individuals, are walking the same path,” Erbaş said.
Erbaş also condemned the ongoing atrocities in Palestine, accusing “Zionists” of justifying their actions, massacres and distorted ideologies. He said they claim a promise from God for the territories they occupy, deeming everything permissible and justifiable, leading to years of the merciless killing of innocent civilians. Erbaş also criticized Israel for turning the Holocaust into an industry, using it as a shield to legitimize past wrongs while continuing to present themselves as victims.
The Diyanet, initially established by the Turkish state to counter radicalism, has undergone a fundamental transformation during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 22-year rule. It has evolved into a major instrument for propagating political Islam, akin to the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, both within Turkey and internationally. Since 2016 the Erdogan government has purged approximately 3,000 personnel from the Diyanet, replacing them with people who embrace Erdogan’s political Islamist ideology.
Additionally, Turkish imams assigned to serve abroad in Diyanet-run mosques have reportedly been instructed to monitor critics of the Erdogan government and collaborate with Turkey’s intelligence agency, MİT. This has effectively turned the Diyanet into an arm of state repression under Erdogan’s authoritarian rule, providing religious justification for government actions and human rights violations.
Nordic Monitor previously reported that the Diyanet revealed plans for an extensive international expansion in 2025, aiming to reach 2.1 million people abroad through religious services, educational programs and cultural initiatives. The move reflects Ankara’s growing use of the Diyanet as a tool of soft power, particularly in Europe, Central Asia and Africa. The Diyanet plans to expand its presence in Western Europe and Africa, especially in countries with large Turkish diaspora populations such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland.
