Turkey’s highly politicized Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) has been organizing various social and aid activities in Europe to improve its frayed image and reach new youth. Most recently Ali Erbaş, the head of the Diyanet, on Monday opened a scout camp in the Corbeil Essonnes district south of Paris, jointly organized by  an affiliate of the Diyanet, the French branch of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB), and the Turkish Scouting and Guiding Federation.

Diyanet imams working in France and French-Turkish youngsters studying theology at Turkish universities attended the scout camp, Nordic Monitor has learned. These students, who receive scholarships from the Diyanet’s International Theology Program, are expected to work as Diyanet personnel in France after graduation.

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Erbaş, who said scouting is an important means of preaching about Islam to young people, thanked federation officials, adding that Turkish scouting activities have now started to serve in the spiritual field, unlike in the past. 

Turkish Consul General in Paris Serdar Belentepe and President of the Turkish Scouting and Guiding Federation Hasan Subaşı also attended the opening ceremony of the camp, which will host activities for seven days.

Read more: Nordic Monitor