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.
NORDIC MONITOR -- 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.”
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.