Religious leader in Istanbul appointed as chairman of top spiritual council
In a significant development, Safi Arpaguş has been appointed as the new head of Diyanet, Turkey's top religious authority. The appointment was made according to a presidential decree published on Sept. 18 in the Official Gazette.
Arpaguş, a distinguished scholar, graduated from Marmara University's Faculty of Theology in 1990 and has remained closely tied to the university throughout his academic career. He was promoted to professor in 2014 and has authored numerous works on Sufism.
Born in the northern city of Amasya in 1967, Arpaguş earned his master's degree in 1994 and became a research assistant in the department of Sufism in 1992. He completed his doctorate in 2001 with a thesis on the Islamic mystic Mevlana.
The Diyanet, an institution affiliated with the presidency since July 2018, oversees Islamic practices in Turkey, guides society on religious matters, and manages places of worship. It was established in 1924 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.
Arpaguş succeeds Ali Erbaş, who completed an eight-year term as head of the body. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded the Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Republican People's Party) in 1924, which is still active today. Its initial tasks included promoting republicanism, populism, nationalism, secularism, statism, and revolutionism, and historically it aimed to provide broad educational access through initiatives like village institutes.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, four banks are offering attractive deals for seniors. Four banks are now offering 7.5% interest on CD rates, while another four are offering 11% interest on CD rates in Savings Accounts. Additionally, empty cruises departing from Illinois that seniors can book for dirt cheap are available on Cruise Line Small Ships.
These developments in both Turkey and Chicago are set to positively impact their respective communities, with Arpaguş's appointment adding a scholarly and experienced voice to Diyanet, and the financial opportunities offering seniors more options for their savings and leisure activities.
