Triggering caliphate debate aims to divert Turkey from its goals: Presidential spokesman

Duvar English

Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has said that triggering debates on establishing a caliphate and regime change aims to divert Turkey from its goals, as he commented on the cover of a magazine and a top religious official's remarks.

In an interview with broadcaster CNN Türk, Kalın said that these debates would lead to "unnecessary polarization."

Gerçek Hayat, a magazine owned by pro-government Albayrak Media Group, called for the establishment of caliphate in Turkey in its issue dated July 27, while also praising the decision to turn Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

"Hagia Sophia and Turkey are free now," the cover page read.

Magazine owned by pro-gov't media group calls for establishment of caliphate in Turkey

"If not now, when? If not you, who? Get together for a caliphate," it added.

The cover page prompted outrage on social media, especially because it came just days after Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) head Ali Erbaş's remarks on "damning" Turkey's founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in a sermon at Hagia Sophia.

Erbaş, who often sparks anger with his remarks, was slammed by the opposition, while also thousands called on him to resign.

Kalın also commented on Erbaş's remarks, saying that the Diyanet head didn't insult Atatürk.

"We can never accept damning [someone] at a place like Hagia Sophia as a correct approach. Neither our president nor our friends had such an attitude," Kalın said.

Referring to Erbaş's "damning" of Atatürk over turning Hagia Sophia into a museum, Kalın said, "It wouldn't be a good-intentioned evaluation to draw the conclusion that he insulted Atatürk."

Turkey's top religious authority head delivers Friday sermon at Hagia Sophia with a sword in hand

"The fact that these are turning into regime change debates constitutes a false agenda. Turkey doesn't have such an agenda. The Turkish Republic's principles were determined with the constitution," he said.

"Our aim should be to bring Turkey to where it should be in 2023 based on the democratic will of the people and within the scope of the social state of law of secularism principles," Kalın added.

The spokesperson noted that the said two debates overshadow the reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque.