The head of Turkey’s powerful religious affairs directorate Ali Erbas lauded against attitudes and celebrations that he claimed were not in line with the values of Islam in his Friday sermon at Hagia Sophia.

Ahead of the advent of 2025, Ali Erbas urged Muslims to avoid practices considered sinful and contrary to religion, and also referred to the customs of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“To imitate figures from traditions that have nothing to do with our religion and culture, to dress and behave like them, is contrary to our faith and wrong. What is most absurd is that the birth of a Prophet is celebrated in a way that goes against the values he brought. Therefore, any kind of entertainment and behaviour that violates the rules of permissibility and privacy is against our faith and is a sin,” he said.

“They can never become permissible”

The harsh criticism of Ali Erbas‘s New Year’s Day gift exchange has caused a stir. “The exchange of gifts bought by those who support those who kill innocent people is a huge burden on the conscience, as it insults the martyrs of Gaza and all the martyrs who sacrificed to make this land our homeland,” he said.

Other issues such as alcohol, gambling, prostitution, homosexuality, drugs, smoking and gambling did not escape his sights. “They can never be made permissible or legal through any celebration, including New Year’s celebrations,” he said.

Ali Erbas urged the faithful to show commitment to their national and spiritual values. “Nations that replace their own values with the values of others and adopt the symbols of other cultures cannot stand. Societies that forget their own culture and succumb to the influence of foreign cultures lose their history, language, religion and identity.”