Turkey's top religious official Görmez signals resignation

ANKARA

Head of Religious Affairs Directorate, Mehmet Görmez signaled he will leave his post.

“After the duty as head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, the only post we will demand will be science,” Görmez said on July 26, answering questions from reporters in regards to whether or not he will leave.

His comments came after he and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had met on July 24, which was interpreted as a sign of him leaving his post.

“Mr. Görmez had a request, a wish to continue with a different post in the future,” stated Erdoğan on the same day, adding the necessary steps had not been taken on the issue.

“Of course the decision will be given after assessments by the Prime Minister, but the head is still in his post. Neither dismissal nor resignation is the issue,” Erdoğan said.