Imam and District Governor's 'Sermon' Crisis

In Diyarbakır's Kulp district, there are allegations that District Governor Burak Akeller physically confronted the imam who was delivering the sermon at a mosque for skipping two lines. Akeller is accused of asking, "Are you a terrorist?" while using offensive language towards the imam and physically assaulting him with a microphone. Following the incident, the imam filed a complaint supported by a medical report detailing his injuries. The governorate has initiated an investigation into the matter. District Governor Akeller has responded to the allegations by stating, "During the sermon, a prayer for our martyrs was being recited, and the imam did not read this part."⁷

The incident between the district governor and the imam, along with the subsequent events, has evolved into a series of peculiar developments. This crisis has not only unveiled the divisions within the ruling coalition but has also highlighted the concerning composition of the bureaucracy and the behavioral patterns of civil servants. While a civil authority has the option to issue a verbal warning initially, preferring insult and physical aggression is not even considered an exception in Turkey, where we find such behaviors uncommon. To comprehend this emerging trend, it is essential to examine the criteria used to appoint individuals like Akeller, who display aggressive behavior, to these positions.

What is no secret is that in recent years, to secure positions in these roles, individuals often need to secure references or, more precisely, engage in what is colloquially known as "torpil," primarily through various organizations, especially political parties. It is also widely acknowledged that certain quotas are allocated to these organizations, with the MHP being a prominent source of such "references" recently. Regrettably, public officials with affiliations to the MHP, as evident in their attire, the issues they prioritize, and the moral support they receive from the party during crises, sometimes seem immune from legal consequences for their impulsive behavior.

Perhaps even more unexpected than the district governor's behavior was the response from various provincial and district administrators from across Turkey, who initiated a social media campaign in support of Kaymakam Akeller. Some district governors, like Kadir Ulusoy, resorted to social media to insult certain union members involved in the controversy.

On the other hand, this crisis has brought the divisions between the AKP and the MHP, which have been a topic of public discussion for some time, into sharper focus. It is widely debated that this incident goes beyond a typical legal case; it has unveiled discord among the actors within the alliance. Organizations like Mil-Diyanet-Sen and Memur-Sen criticized the district governor in their statements. However, many district governors criticized these statements and defended Akeller. MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli also criticized the district governor, saying, "I kiss his immaculate forehead," and added, "Getting a battery report for a scratch is not a Muslim attitude." Interior Minister Yerlikaya also issued a veiled statement of support in a tweet. Zafer Party expressed support for the district governor, while the Dem Party condemned him. Meanwhile, the AKP has remained silent on the matter. Additionally, it is claimed that two tribes in the Kulp district have become embroiled in a conflict as a result of this crisis.⁸