Entries Tagged 'Diyanet' ↓

My trip is going great so far.  I’m now at the Ankara bus terminal completely surprised to find they have free wireless.  I don’t think they know they have free wireless; it’s more likely that some of the bus companies have open networks, or maybe I’m catching the signal from a few of the ultramodern […]

I’m heading to Ankara on Monday to chat with several Diyanet officials; I should be back Wednesday night.  These meetings are really important for the next phase of my project, and last summer I had a great experience at the Diyanet, so I’m looking forward to this trip.
I’m also excited about meeting with a computer […]

I came across a good article in the Chicago Tribune about the Diyanet and state management of religious life in Turkey.  Although a couple years old, the piece is a great primer on religion in Turkey and includes a lot of detail that you’re unlikely to find elsewhere.  There’s even a section on sermons and […]

My second trip to Ankara couldn’t have gone better.  First I had a good discussion with Dr. Ali Bardakoglu, President of the Diyanet.  He’s been in charge of the agency since 2003 and many of the people I spoke with last week credit his dynamism and forward-thinking for bringing the Diyanet into a kind of […]

I got back from Ankara late Friday night, but I’m already planning a trip back there this Wednesday to interview the president of the Diyanet, Dr. Ali Bardakoglu.  He has a tight schedule, so I don’t want to pass up this opportunity to meet while I’m still in Turkey.
It was actually an interview with Dr. […]

On the list of things not to expect when visiting one of the largest departments in the Turkish government, being called a beautiful man and meeting an official who knows New Jersey better than you do are probably right at the top.

My trip to the Diyanet has been memorable from the get-go.  After I scrambled […]

Tomorrow morning I’m catching an early flight to Ankara where I’ll spend a couple days interviewing people at the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), one of Turkey’s two governmental institutions for administering Islamic religious life.
The Diyanet produces all the sermons I’ve been studying and is also responsible for sending imams to DITIB mosques in […]