Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı Spent 340 Million Lira on Calendar Printing

Quick summary

The Directorate of Religious Affairs spent 340 million lira on calendar printing. This expenditure was covered from the institution's publication and promotion budget and has brought public spending inquiries back into focus.

Why it matters

The resources allocated by the Directorate of Religious Affairs, one of Turkey's highest-budgeted public institutions, to a simple product like a calendar raises questions for taxpayers and budget auditors about how rational spending priorities are. Such expenditures by public institutions can ultimately lead to pressure on state budget expansion and increases in tax burden.

Key takeaways

• ›Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı reportedly allocated 340 million Turkish lira for calendar printing, according to Sözcü newspaper.
• ›The spending falls under the institution's publication and promotion budget line.
• ›Diyanet has not issued an official statement; the Sözcü report provided no additional financial breakdown.