İmams demand allocation of famous Zonguldak beach for their use on a specific week day

İmams, muezzins and other religious personnel of Diyanet have demanded from the ruling AKP's Zonguldak municipality that the famous Kapuz Beach be designated for only their use on a specific week day, daily Sözcü reported on July 5.

Duvar English

Religious officers employed by Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) have demanded from a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) mayor that he allocate the use of a popular beach in the northern province of Zonguldak just for their use for one day every week.

The demand came as Zonguldak municipality is preparing to open the famous Kapuz Beach in the province for citizens. The beach serves as a women-only public beach on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and is open to both men and women for the rest of the week. 

During a visit to the beach to oversee the municipality's works, Zonguldak Mayor Ömer Selim Alan said that he will consider Diyanet personnel's demand after talking with the beach staff, daily Sözcü reported on July 5. 

Diyanet has recently made the news after it inked a deal with a five-star hotel in the Mediterranean Antalya for its employees where a one-night stay costs up to about 1,000 Turkish Liras.

Known for encouraging the public to avoid luxury and glitz, the Diyanet is known to be granted extravagant funds through the state budget. It has a budget of almost 13 billion Turkish Liras for this year alone.