The entire staff of the Religious Affairs Foundation’s Women’s Activities Center has decided to collectively resign from their posts following the removal from office of the center’s head, Ayşe Sucu, daily Milliyet reported Sunday.
Sucu, who is known for her liberal views about religion and women and for wearing a loose style of headscarf, reportedly told her close friends that she was surprised and hurt by the foundation’s decision to let her go.
Foundation head Necati Akçeşme said in a statement that the change was the result of “new excitement and new understanding” in the foundation. The Religious Affairs Directorate is undergoing personnel changes under new head Mehmet Görmez, who has recently identified three new deputies and appointed four general managers.
In his written press statement, Akçeşme did not mention Sucu by name, but identifying her by her post, said her personal life and thoughts did not play a role in the decision. Sucu had previously said wearing a headscarf is not a religious obligation for Muslim women.
Sucu collected her belongings from her office Saturday after receiving the official statement about her removal from office. “I was always focused on my work. I achieved a lot of firsts. There has been great success here,” she reportedly told her friends, according to Milliyet. “I am really hurt by this act while there are a great number of women [paying attention to our work]. I did not deserve this.”
Monday press meeting
Vildan Karabulut, the deputy head of the center, said the staff has no quarrel with any person or institution. “This is a change in posts and it is pretty normal,” she said. “But Mrs. Ayşe should have been installed in the place she deserved.” Karabulut confirmed that the center’s staff had decided to collectively resign. “With our head removed from office, the acting board no longer has the power to act. They brought us to that position,” she said. “We are going to hold a press meeting Monday.”
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