Diyanet-Sen request for ‘Ramadan bonus’ for religious officials

Diyanet-Sen Chairman Ali Yıldız demanded that religious officials receive a salary bonus in Ramadan.

Yıldız stated that negotiations for the 7th Term Collective Agreement will begin in August, which will determine the salary and pensions of civil servants and retirees in 2024 and 2025.

Noting that they will participate in the contract negotiations as an authorized trade union in the “Religious and Foundation Services” service branch, Yıldız noted that they determined the contract demands for the service branch with the workshop they organized.

‘MOTIVATION WILL INCREASE’

Stating that, as a union, they have been defending the financial, personal and social rights and interests of their members at the collective bargaining table for 20 years, Yıldız said:

“The month of Ramadan is the month when religious officials work the hardest. In this month, our religious officials are working day and night, regardless of the concept of overtime. Therefore, giving a salary bonus to our religious officers, who spend the month of Ramadan with such an intense work pace, will increase the motivation of our religious officers. We want this right to be granted.”

IMMUNITY REQUEST FOR IMMUNITY HATIPES AND PREACHERS

Yildiz recalled the debates over the podium speeches of imams and preachers:

“Imam-speakers and preachers address their congregation both in the Friday sermon and in prayer times. Our religious officials want to be free in these speeches according to the general moral rules of the society within the framework of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. What is meant by this freedom is certainly not a political discourse. Freedom of expression on religious topics is requested.

Recalling that the right of associate degree graduates in theology to complete their university degree without examination has been canceled by the Constitutional Court, Yıldız said, “Today, there are around 60,000 associate degree theology staff members in the Directorate of Religious Affairs. As a union, with a protocol to be signed between YÖK and the Presidency of Religious Affairs, we want only associate degree graduates in theology who work in the institution to complete their licenses without an exam.”

REQUEST FOR LEGAL LIMIT TO ASSOCIATIONS OF MOSQUES

Noting that most of the mosques in Turkey were built with donations collected from citizens, Yıldız said that the managers of the association for building and maintaining mosques are doing their duty with devotion.

Yıldız stated that after the construction of the mosque was completed, some of the association leaders embraced the mosque and continued as follows:

“Some of the heads of associations that own mosques may apply policies of pressure and intimidation and harassment of imams-hatips and muezzins appointed to the mosque. Of course, we know and appreciate the contributions of mosque associations to religious services. As we all know, the foundations and associations formed around the mosques and Quran Courses obtain their financial resources using the names of religious institutions. However, some foundations and associations, as well as those that provide a very dignified service, unfortunately try to take advantage of the opportunities they have to manage religious institutions and religious officials. The mosque associations are not the heads of the imams. The legal limits regarding these associations must be clearly defined”. (AA)