The Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) criticized in today's Friday sermon in mosques in the country the "destructive influence" that it believes certain movies and series have on the family, reports the Turkish newspaper "Cumhuriyet", quoted by BTA.
According to Diyanet, the concept of "family" is under threat.
"Certain movies, TV series, advertisements and TV shows expose the family to destructive influences", states the sermon read today in mosques in Turkey. "Distorted trends and false ideologies are trying to destroy the family structure, presenting illicit relationships as families under the pretext of freedom", the sermon said. "Our children, who are the guarantee for the future of our families and society, for the survival of our state and for our national existence, are presented as a burden. Mothers and fathers, grandparents are condemned to loneliness and indifference under the pretext of comfort and convenience".
As the sermon further states, the solution to these negative influences should be sought in "the merciful messages of the Holy Quran and the exemplary morality of our beloved Prophet".
"Cumhuriyet" commented that the sermon of the new Diyanet chairman (equivalent to the grand mufti) Safi Arpagus is in no way inferior to those of his predecessor in the post, Ali Erbaş, whose sermons also often came under the media spotlight and caused disapproval in the more secular-minded part of society.
In some of the previous sermons, for example, Diyanet declared itself against equal rights for women in terms of inheritance rights and declared it "haram", i.e. sinful, to wear short skirts.
Safi Arpagus was appointed director of Diyanet by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 17 this year, after the term of his predecessor Ali Erbaş expired. Previously, Arpagus was the district mufti of Istanbul.