More female imams to be employed in Southeast

Turkey's eastern and southeastern provinces do not have sufficient numbers of female imams to deliver religious speeches to the locals; therefore, the Religious Affairs Directorate will begin to employ more female imams in these provinces in the upcoming weeks, said Sevki Aydin, deputy director of the religious body.

In certain provinces, on the other hand, the number of imams is exceedingly higher than the number required, hence the directorate will send some of those imams to provinces that need more prayer leaders, said Aydin.

The directorate has to send female imams to eastern and southeastern provinces due to the cultural characteristics of these regions, he said.

“Female citizens in these regions cannot go and tell their problems related to religious matters to local ‘muftis,' who, most of the time, are male. This is something related to the culture and the moral values that dominate those parts of Turkey,” he added, pointing to the conservative life style in the region.

“We will soon make an announcement for an exam to elect female imams to be employed in those provinces,” said Aydin.