Adnan Oktar responded to the claims of the President of Religious Affairs

Adnan Oktar: The President of Religious Affairs, Professor Dr. Ali Erbaş; "Our norm is the Qur'an and the sunnah. There are efforts to deviate the Qur'an and the sunnah from one another." There is indeed an extensive effort as such among the theology teachers, specifically among the theology faculty professors. Most of them are of this view.  "We do not approve these efforts. We use all available means to inform both our imams and our people regarding this issue. One of the most prominent means used in this regard are the sermons." It would be better to publish books than give sermons. Printing and distributing books would prove effective.

Professor Dr. Ali Erbaş continued his speech: "Our High Council for Religious Affairs is currently conducting new studies on the terrorist organizations assuming religious mantle." He is probably referring to ISIS, al-Qaeda and the likes. "We are conducting further studies towards uncovering if there are other individuals or groups who hold views that go beyond the correct religious conception and are in an attempt to cause mischief among our nation."

Actually, Turkey is home to Shiites, Alevis, Bektashis; it is home to people of diverse views and beliefs. Everyone does not have to share your views. How can one expect such a thing? There are Christians, Christian sects and groups. There are Jewish communities. Not everyone has to share your views. Acting under the intention of "forcing people into following your beliefs" would be utterly wrong. Alevis remain as Alevis and defend their own belief. You cannot interfere with their beliefs. You cannot try to force your own conception of the sunnah and the Qur'an. They are free to practice their own beliefs. Then there are Bektashis and Shiites who are also free to practice their own beliefs. This is also true for the people of any other sects. There are Christians sects in Turkey. You cannot interfere with their beliefs. There are Jewish sects, too. You cannot interfere with these communities. Following such a mentality is not reasonable. And moreover, ‘holding another belief’ in no way implicates at causing mischief. One can be an Alevi or a Shiite; and this is nobody's concern. What does it have to do with mischief? People can hold any belief of their choice.

"We are conducting studies towards uncovering if there are certain individuals or groups who hold views that go beyond the correct religious conception and are in an attempt to cause mischief among our nation. We have to take measures. We were a little late in taking action against the FETO..." You were very late in doing so, not a little. Because you were actually one of those working for a study group of FETÖ. You were a member of a study group of FETÖ, so you failed to realize, you failed to notice this fact."

... and we admit it..." This is good. "...So we are putting in considerable effort to avoid being late again."

In what issues should the Directorate of Religious Affairs put their effort? They need to make effort towards closing down all brothels in Turkey. 200,000 women are being sold in brothels. Yet the Directorate of Religious Affairs does not issue any statements regarding this issue. 3 million Turkish men visit these places per day, and this number reaches 5 million on weekends. The Directorate of Religious Affairs cannot overlook this issue and concern themselves in others. This is the biggest problem, the greatest sin. 200,000 women, the women of this country, are being sold in brothels, generating a source of income for the salaries of the Directorate of Religious Affairs. And you, the President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, accept this salary. First of all, you have to crack down on this issue. You have to be honest at this point and struggle against tangible issues instead of imaginary ones. This is clear. Secondly, state-endorsed gambling such as national lottery, horse racing, football pools and betting etc. is widespread in Turkey. Millions of people commit this sin. But as the President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, you keep silent. You do not utter a single word against neither prostitution and brothels, nor the widespread gambling. You maintain complete silence. You cannot say even a single word against this. This is because these institutions generate taxes. Gambling too is a source of tax generation. And these taxes pay the salaries of the Directorate's personnel. Moreover, as the President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, you must issue a statement about how the wine and raki factories are unlawful. But you cannot and will not speak against them. You do not speak out against wine and raki factories and about the fact that they are unlawful and endorse sin, that being involved in their trade, transportation etc. is also unlawful. You cannot, but you must. Speak out about how charging and paying interest in banks is a sin and an unlawful deed. Make a statement about the fact that it is a sin, an unlawful deed to charge interest to poor people. Yet you do not utter a single word. What sort of President of Religious Affairs are you, struggling against imaginary issues?

Oktar Babuna: Darwinism as taught at the schools.

Adnan Oktar: As the President of Religious Affairs, make a statement against the fact that Darwinism, an ideology that rejects God, His Prophet and His religion, is being taught in schools, about how we descended from Adam and Eve. Distribute books about the invalidity of Darwinism. But look at what you are preoccupied with. Not everyone can share your belief.

Erbaş says, "Other than the FETO, there are individuals who call themselves 'preachers' leading groups pretending to be sects..." First of all, I do not call myself a preacher. Drop the insincere discourse. You are an adult. You should be ashamed of your beard.

"...and dance in front of Al-Quran al-Kareem." There is no such thing as 'life stops where there is the Qur'an." It was on TRT [Turkish Radio and Television Association] that we first saw belly dancers and dancing. And TRT still occasionally features belly dancers. If you claim that there are no Qur'ans in the TRT studios, if you claim that the Qur'an cannot be present where there is dancing and entertainment, if you are introducing a new religious conception, than that is another story.

"...We watch them with disdain..." It should be brothels that make you feel disdain. 200,000 women are being sold in brothels. The taxes generated from prostitution income go to paying your salaries. And with that money, you buy food and put it on your table. This is what should make you feel disdain. Why does dancing make you feel disdain? It should be prostitution that makes you feel so. Could you not find any other issue to feel this way about? 3 million Turkish people visit these brothels every day. This is what should make you feel disdain. And on weekends, this number goes as high as 5 million. This is what should make you feel disdain. Yet you remain utterly silent about these issues. Billions of liters of wine, beer and raki are produced in alcohol factories, and the taxes collected from them go into paying your salaries. If there is anything that should make you feel disdain about, it is this, not dancing. I guess he is quite comfortable with the state of affairs that he does not concern himself with the issues that actually need to be dealt with. Banks charge heavy interests, which pay your salaries. This is an unlawful deed. This is what should make you feel disdain. I can give countless examples like this. Sport betting, national lottery; these are all gambling. Taxes collected from gambling go to paying your salary. If there is anything that should make you feel disdain about, it is this. Yet you do not come out and say a single word against them. You sit on your seat and when you see a microphone, you get carried away. This is a shame...

Gökalp Barlan: Ali Erbaş has yet to issue any statement about homosexuality.

Adnan Oktar: You keep your quite about homosexuality. Countless people of this country become homosexuals. Do you say anything against it, about it being unlawful? Does it make you feel any disdain? It does not. You keep utterly silent. But you complain about people dancing. As the President of Religious Affairs, have you ever written a book against the PKK? Has this issue ever made you feel disdain? The Directorate of Religious Affairs has yet to publish a single book criticizing the PKK, communism or Darwinism.

Oktar Babuna: Yes, they have not.

Adnan Oktar: There is not even a single such book. This is what should actually make you feel disdain.

Gökalp Barlan: Mr. Oktar, you stated that he did not make any statements regarding the controversial parts of the Masnavi.

Adnan Oktar: We have already gone past that issue, as he is apparently alright with it. He comes out and says "We watch those who dance with disdain." You do not feel any disdain about brothels, where 200,000 women are sold into prostitution. These places even issue official receipts. They pay their taxes, which in the end goes to paying your salary. This is what should make you feel disdain. Why are you showing off before the public? People have various beliefs and this is none of your concern. If it is your concern, then you will get concerned with the beliefs of Alevis, Shiites and people of other beliefs as well. No one has to share the same belief as yours. They are free to be atheists or believe in Christianity, Judaism or other religions. Are you going to force people into adopting your belief? He says it is not right to watch their programs. Do not watch it then as no once is forcing you to do so. But curiously, you do not pay attention to other channels as much as you pay attention to ours.

"In the past, this person also led the group that published the book Judaism and Masonry," he says. He did lead the group that published the book Judaism and Masonry, this is true. "And now, this person says that he is a mason." This is also true.

"I suppose that he has completely become mentally unstable." Have you become a doctor or professor of medicine? Now he is playing the doctor. He is playing the psychiatrist. You are only authorized to issue statements on religious issues. How can you make a statement about someone's mental health? He has gone too far... If he was a doctor of medicine or a psychiatrist, I would understand it.

Oktar Babuna: He could not make such statements even then.

Adnan Oktar: Indeed, diagnosing someone with mental issues would require an examination, observation and unanimous decision. Furthermore, I hold 5 different reports obtained from 5 hospitals specialized in this field, attesting that I am mentally healthy. These reports, all of which express that I am mentally healthy, were issued by 20 different professors. Is this what you are obsessed with now?

"He was sentenced for libel against Jews and Masons," he claimed.  If you are lying and cannot prove it, then you are a slanderer. How can you tell such blatant lies? I have never been sentenced for libel against Jews and Masons. I was never received such a sentence. You are telling lies; have fear of God. He is still telling this lie.

"Libel against Atatürk was one of the reasons behind his imprisonment," he claims. This is also a monstrous lie. Have fear of God. You are casting aspersions. Is it befitting of a Muslim to lie? You are lying through your teeth. If you cannot provide any official documents, that makes you a slanderer. He is such an insincere person. He is way out of line. Where are the documents proving the existence of such a trial and sentence? I have never received such a sentence.

Oktar Babuna: Your criminal record is completely clean.

Adnan Oktar: Prove it then. My criminal record is self-evident. Why would a man of your status tell lies? You are the President of the Religious Affairs. He claims he knows it for certain that I was sent to prison for libel against Atatürk. And he claims he knows it for certain. Why would a man of your status tell such a