“Advance Oral Sex” in Muslim Turkey
I will publish this article as I read it on Al-monitor, The Pulse. The reason it made to this site is because the similarity in Muslim Turkey and its clergy with sex as much as the Christian clerics are in the United States. My biggest surprise is that his otherwise taboo subject as oral sex is done in an Advance way in a muslim country or at least by its clergy, The first question I will pulse if I could to these religious people would be: How do you know about advance oral sex and who invented it? It can’t be the deviil because you are talking about it in Turkish television. I will like to post pictures for my audience to understand better but it will kill the inclusive rating of this blog.
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Ali Riza Demircan, a popular theologian, appeared on a TV show aired by the official outlet Turkish Radio and Television (TRT). Pelin Cift, a young blonde woman, is the host of the program, on which Demircan appears as a frequent guest. While talking about sexuality, Demircan asserted, “Advanced oral sex between a married couple is haram [forbidden by Islam].” Cift broke into nervous laughter.
Sex is an issue Cift and Demircan often discuss on the show, as he is the author of the well-known book “Sexual Life According to Islam.” For example, during an episode aired in June 2013, Demircan had informed the audience, “Making love is akin to worship.” Cift appeared to be flustered by that assertion as well.
Aired on state television, the words “advanced oral sex” immediately sent shock waves through Turkish social media. Users asked one another what exactly “advanced oral sex” means.
The most popular reaction, however, came from another Islamic personality, Robed (Cubbeli) Ahmet Hoca. A senior figure in the Ismail Aga religious order, Ahmet Hoca is known for his love of the limelight and controversial remarks. This time he announced, “When one [Demircan] says oral sex is forbidden by Islam, he is lying in the name of God. We cannot say it is forbidden, because we have no evidence to declare it forbidden.”
Ahmet Hoca’s blessing of oral sex generated another round of satirical exchanges on social media, and before one could declare the discussion over, Demircan came back with a personal retort against Ahmet Hoca, saying, “After the TRT program, I received several thank you notes and prayers. I am delighted to contribute to the understanding of what is forbidden. This is a crucial matter as it leads to conflict among couples and even to divorce. When we speak of what is forbidden, I understand those in denial, those who are engaged in extramarital affairs, gays, lesbians, erotic site owners and [sex toy] salespeople to be disturbed, but I don’t understand short-sighted Muslims. Are they disturbed by being reminded what is forbidden in Islam because they are committing these sins?”
Demircan’s comments and exchange between the Turkish televangelists made headlines in international as well as Turkish media. On social media, the reactions were typically humorous. The columnist Ozgur Mumcu tweeted, “Having acquired the knowledge that Ali Riza Demircan never falls victim to advanced oral sex, now we can sleep in peace.” Others chiming in included the following:
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| Safer sex in Turkey |
Obeying all the rules of Islam, then the sad destiny of going to hell is due to advanced oral sex.
Any casualties from advanced oral sex so far?
Finally, reformation has begun in Islam. We moved from discussing whether chewing gum breaks the [Muslim] fast to advanced oral sex.
We are yearning for Old Turkey. In the old days, during Ramadan they would sell Ramadan pita at the bakeries, now they are talking about advanced oral sex.
There are sectarian wars, and now let’s hope the people will not be divided as those who like oral sex and those who don’t. The Middle East cannot overcome this!
A prominent columnist, Ahmet Hakan, titled his column on the subject “7 pieces of advice to Robed Hoja,” in which he urged Hoca to be as passionate about corruption, injustice and social values as he was about oral sex. Turkey’s most popular hypertext social dictionary, Eksisozluk, had 52 pages of entries under the heading “Advanced Oral Sex” the week of July 11-19.
Indeed, not a day passes without the ulema (educated clergy) commenting on sexual matters. Previously, they had focused on the permissibility of polygamy and the side effects of masturbation. Another famous televangelist, Mucahid Cihad Han, went on the record in May declaring masturbation forbidden, saying, “If a man masturbates, in the afterlife his hand will get pregnant.”
Indeed, these sexual debates offer intriguing clues about the social, economic and political values in contemporary Turkish understanding of religion. As the marketplace of religious orders has grown, televangelists or sheikhs from these orders have become much more tolerated in the public domain.
Religious orders are still formally banned in Turkey, but it seems as long as religious men refrain from talking about politics, especially criticizing the government, they are free to talk about almost anything they want. In addition, retired theologians are also finding fame and making lucrative livings from the colorful daily talk shows. Popular shows provide them instant recognition. As one scholar told A-Monitor, “You can pick and choose your own imam, rather than following the one the government assigns to your neighborhood.”
Al-Monitor contacted several theologians and government imams from the Religious Affairs Directorate (RAD), but they were unwilling to comment. One scholar said, “You should not write about oral sex. It will hurt your reputation.” When asked how respected religious elders can discuss the issue so freely, the scholar replied, “They are all men, occasionally a few older women. Young women should not speak about these matters.”
Indeed, the scholar has a point. Speaking about sexual matters in Turkey is another field, like security and military politics, reserved for men. Although it may seem progressive to be talking about sexual matters in public, it is more an issue of men preaching to younger men and women about what is permissible, not an open debate. Hence, all women are pretty much expected to do is giggle nervously and look sheepish or shell-shocked. The host Cift is an exquisite example of the immature standard set for women in this regard.
This perhaps comes with the territory, as most, if not all, of the sexual advice provided is exclusively aimed at men. Women are rather passive players in the game, so they are not expected to have a voice.
On another crucial point, on can discern a rift, likely to become more visible in the near future, between leaders of religious orders and RAD-trained and -employed imams and muftis. On sexual matters, government-employed imams have been rather quiet, but theologians and sheikhs who are not formally employed by the government can appear on state television and hold forth on such graphic issues as advanced oral sex.
RAD is known to be rather strict in regard to its imam’s sermons. For example, one respected imam, Yasin Gundogdu, known for broadcasting his sermons and his bold style, was forbidden to go off script during Ramadan this year. Why are some imams allowed to preach freely, but the state controls every sentence of government-employed preachers?
One RAD imam from Ankara, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job, said, “The public wants to hear real-life issues. They are bored with government-sanctioned sermons, but we have strict rules. So more and more people are recruited into the religious orders, and our mosque congregations shrink. As long as religious orders do not challenge government policies too harshly, they can preach freely. For government employees, there are strict rules and regulations, and our sermons [are] therefore a bore.”
It seems there is a dual path in Turkish religious affairs. On the one hand, RAD is growing and expanding its powers, but on the other hand, religious orders are supported and encouraged to be more visible in the public domain as long as they refrain from politics. That said, after two weeks of sex talk, people are still asking, “Have you found out what advanced oral sex is?”
By Pinar Tremblay who is a columnist for Al-Monitor’s Turkey Pulse and is a visiting scholar of political science at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She is a columnist for Turkish news outlet T24. Her articles have appeared in Time, New America, Hurriyet Daily News, Todays Zaman, Star and Salom. On Twitter: @pinartremblay
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