Controversial call from former chief imam of Hagia Sophia: No secularism in the new constitution.

After the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Boynukalın, who was appointed as the head imam, is making headlines with his statements. Previously, he received criticism from some circles for his remarks about the removal of the Istanbul Convention, saying, "The Istanbul Convention has been abolished. Thank God. May Allah be pleased. A righteous and strong person = A righteous and strong Turkey." As the issue of changing the constitution arises, Boynukalın now stated, "There should be no secularism in the new constitution. Countless injustices have been and are being committed against this Muslim nation because of secularism. The headscarf ban is just one of them, the most symbolic one. The state and the constitution should be in accordance with the religion of this nation, Islam."

"THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELIGION OF THIS STATE"

Boynukalın, who claims that Muslims have been subjected to injustices due to secularism, made the following post on his social media account:

"There should be no secularism in the new constitution. Countless injustices have been and are being committed against this Muslim nation because of secularism. The headscarf ban is just one of them, the most symbolic one. The state and the constitution should be in accordance with the religion of this nation, Islam."

WHO IS MEHMET BOYNUKALIN?

Boynukalın, born in Istanbul in 1971, graduated from Al-Azhar University in 1992. In 1995, he completed his master's thesis at Marmara University Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Islamic Law, titled "The Need for Renewal in the Principles of Jurisprudence and the Debates It Has Caused." He obtained his doctorate in Islamic law in 1999 with his thesis. He worked as an expert in the interpretation project carried out by the Presidency of Religious Affairs between 2000 and 2001. During this time, Boynukalın, who was involved in the scientific publication project of Imam Maturidi's famous interpretation "Te'vilatu'l-Quran," continued his scientific research in the UK between 2001 and 2006.

From 2006 to 2011, Prof. Dr. Boynukalın worked as a research specialist in Islamic law and a member of the Islamic encyclopedia science committee at the Turkey Diyanet Foundation Islamic Research Center (ISAM). In 2011, he became an associate professor of Islamic law. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Boynukalın, who speaks Arabic and English, completed his memorization of the Quran and his studies in the science of recitation under the guidance of the late Rizeli Kurra Hafiz İbrahim Gündoğar Hocaefendi at Dülgerzade Mosque.