11.11.2026 12:13
AK Party Deputy Chairman Hülya Terzioğlu, who was criticized over a photo showing her sitting in the same row as men at a mosque opening in Çorum, made a statement regarding what happened. Stating that the program was initially planned outside the mosque but they moved inside due to cold weather, Terzioğlu said that after the Quran recitation she prayed in the women's section. Reacting to the criticism directed at her, Terzioğlu said, "Suspicion is also a grave sin."
A photo taken at a mosque opening in Çorum attended by AK Party Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Hülya Terzioğlu has caused controversy. Terzioğlu, who was seen sitting in the same row as male participants during the recitation of the Holy Quran, broke her silence after the criticism. Terzioğlu's statements were shared with the public by AK Party Gaziantep MP Şamil Tayyar.
PHOTO AT MOSQUE OPENING CAUSED CONTROVERSY
The image that caused the controversy was taken at the opening ceremony of the Faculty of Theology Practice Mosque located on the North Campus of Hitit University in Çorum. The program was also attended by Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, and Hülya Terzioğlu, who serves as AK Party Deputy Chairman responsible for Social Policies, also took part.
After a photo was shared showing Terzioğlu sitting in the front row together with male participants during the recitation of the Holy Quran, criticism regarding the seating arrangement inside the mosque came to the agenda.
THE CONGREGATION SUDDENLY FLOODED IN
AK Party Gaziantep MP Şamil Tayyar, in a post on November 10, stated that he had spoken with Terzioğlu and recounted the behind-the-scenes of what happened.
Terzioğlu explained that the ceremony was initially planned to be held outside the mosque, but because the weather was cold, the program was moved inside. Terzioğlu, noting that Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said 'let's go inside and recite our prayer there,' used the following statements:
'We went inside, the congregation suddenly flooded in, and as soon as the Quran recitation ended, I immediately left and performed the prayer in the women's section.'
Terzioğlu stated that the photo that caused the controversy was also taken during this short period.
THEY EVEN DECLARED ME A FEMINIST
Terzioğlu, stating that various accusations were directed at her over the photo, reacted especially to being described as a 'feminist'.
Terzioğlu argued with the words 'they even declared me a feminist, whereas how many refutations do I have against feminists' that the criticism did not reflect the truth.
Terzioğlu also expressed her sadness over what happened, using the words 'it hurts me to be beaten in a field of struggle to which I have devoted my life'.
SUSPICION IS ALSO A GREAT SIN
Terzioğlu concluded her response to the criticism directed at her with the words 'Suspicion is also a great sin'.
Şamil Tayyar, who stated that he had spoken with Terzioğlu, recalled that the AK Party figure is a theologian and has served as a faculty member for 13 years. Tayyar stated that Terzioğlu was left 'under neighborhood pressure' because of what happened.