Turkey’s religious directorate appoints first ever woman as deputy chair

ANKARA

Turkey’s top religious body, the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), has appointed Huriye Martı, a professor at Necmettin Erbakan University, to the highest office in the directorate ever held by a woman.

Martı’s appointment was announced in a post in the Official Gazette on March 13.

On March 11, Diyanet chair Ali Erbaş said the directorate will select and appoint female deputy muftis in all provinces across Turkey.

Speaking during a news briefing in the capital Ankara, Erbaş said the Diyanet is working to include more women in official positions.

“We will select and appoint female deputy muftis in all our provinces as soon as possible,” he said, adding that female “supervisors” will be appointed in all provinces of the country.

A consultation meeting under the title “Islam and Woman” will be held soon with women theologians, Erbaş stated.