02.05.2025 21:00
The proposal submitted to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly by the AK Party group reorganizes the provisions regarding the service units, duties, and authorities of the Presidency of Religious Affairs. Accordingly, the General Directorate of Religious Services will provide spiritual counseling and religious services in places such as student dormitories, educational institutions, correctional facilities, healthcare institutions, and social service organizations.
The AK Party group in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) prepared a bill to fill the legal gap created by the Constitutional Court's (AYM) annulment of certain regulations and to eliminate any uncertainties that may arise in practice.
NOTABLE REGULATION RELATED TO THE PRESIDENTATE OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS
According to the proposal submitted to the Presidency of the TBMM; with the amendment to the 'Law on the Organization and Duties of the Presidency of Religious Affairs', the provisions regarding the service units, duties, and authorities of the Presidency of Religious Affairs are being reorganized. Accordingly, the General Directorate of Religious Services, which will provide spiritual counseling services to vulnerable groups in need of support such as migrants, the disabled, dependents, and disaster victims, will take necessary measures to ensure that the ritual of sacrifice is performed in accordance with its procedures and will supervise the services and activities of institutions and organizations that carry out proxy sacrifice organizations. Additionally, reading rooms, family and religious guidance centers, youth activity centers, and similar places will be opened where needed, and related activities will be carried out. Furthermore, the presidency will also be able to audit the expenses related to the execution of pilgrimage and umrah trips.
SPIRITUAL COUNSELING AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED IN MANY INSTITUTIONS
The General Directorate of Religious Services will provide spiritual counseling and religious services in student dormitories, educational institutions, youth centers and camps, correctional institutions, health organizations, social service institutions, and similar places based on cooperation. On the other hand, the General Directorate of Religious Services will enlighten the society on religious matters through written, visual, auditory, and digital media.
TENMAK WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM EXISTING FINANCIAL EXEMPTIONS
The bill also includes regulations related to the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK). Accordingly, TENMAK will continue to benefit from existing financial exemptions. The agency's assets will be defined as state property and thus cannot be seized. In another amendment, TENMAK will be able to conduct research, innovation, and technology development activities in energy, nuclear, and mining technologies of strategic importance that Turkey needs and convert them into production and commercial value. For the procurement of goods that are necessary for research, development, technology, and innovation projects and must be procured from abroad, advance payments can be made without collateral up to the contract amount, with the approval of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Amounts related to projects supported by the agency can be transferred to real persons who are project executors or to institutions and organizations where the projects are carried out by being recorded as expenditures in the agency's budget. Support can be obtained from other public institutions and organizations as well as private entities for projects carried out or supported by the agency. In this context, amounts transferred to the agency can be monitored in special accounts opened without being recorded as income in the agency's budget. Expenditures made under this provision will be audited according to the Public Financial Management and Control Law. Rights over all kinds of intellectual and industrial products such as works, inventions, industrial designs, utility models, and technical information that arise during the implementation of projects carried out by the agency will belong to the agency.
AMENDMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO THE LAW ON THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL ASSETS
With the proposal, amendments are being made to the 'Law on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets'. According to the amendment; the protection of cultural and natural assets under the administration and control of the Presidency and the TBMM will be carried out by them. In ensuring this protection, the technical assistance and cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will be provided when necessary. All kinds of income obtained from palaces, mansions, kiosks, and museums affiliated with the Presidency, as well as conditional donations and aids made for their maintenance and repair, will be deposited into the accounting unit of the National Palaces Administration and recorded as special income in the budget. This special income recorded will be allocated for the maintenance, repair, preservation, and operation of the palaces, mansions, kiosks, and museums affiliated with the Presidency, in the existing or newly opened appropriations of the National Palaces Administration budget. Unused portions of the recorded special appropriations will be carried over to the next year as income and recorded as special appropriations. Enterprises whose income is recorded as special appropriations will be exempt from corporate tax. The repairs and restorations of historical buildings and objects under the responsibility of the Presidency, as well as the procurement of goods and services related to environmental arrangements and exclusively specialized issues, will be carried out without being subject to the provisions of the Public Procurement Law, in accordance with the procedures and principles to be determined by the Presidency.
MAPEG WILL BE EXEMPT FROM ALL TAXES AND FEES EXCEPT VAT AND SCT
On the other hand, the proposal amends the 'Mining Law'. According to the regulation regarding the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs (MAPEG), all assets and properties of MAPEG will be considered state property and cannot be seized; crimes committed against them will be considered crimes against state property. MAPEG will be exempt from all kinds of taxes, fees, and charges, except for value-added tax and special consumption tax, arising from transactions related to its duties under the relevant legislation, as well as from any revolving fund fees arising from land registry and cadastre transactions. However, the collection of court fees from the opposing party will be decided by the relevant authority in proportion to MAPEG's entitlement. Except for motor vehicles purchased or imported by MAPEG for the performance of its duties under the relevant legislation, all motor vehicles, motorized and non-motorized machines, devices, tools, and their spare parts and tires will be exempt from all kinds of taxes, fees, and charges, except for value-added tax and special consumption tax.