June 4, 2025 Official Gazette Published: Wide-Ranging Regulations and Decisions from Religious Affairs to Defense, Banking to Disaster Management

ANKARA – Illuminating the legal, administrative, and judicial processes of the Republic of Türkiye, the Official Gazette dated Wednesday, June 4, 2025, with issue number 32920, announced a broad spectrum of decisions to the public, ranging from various legal amendments and critical appointments to new regulations and significant judicial rulings. Particularly noteworthy were the re-regulations concerning the duties of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, changes in the wage payment system, and health requirements for disaster personnel.

Published by the Directorate General of Law and Legislation of the Presidency's General Secretariat, this issue reflects the activities of various levels of the state and the current governance agenda.

LEGISLATIVE SECTION: Comprehensive Changes with Law No. 7549

The Law No. 7549 on Amending Certain Laws and Decree Law No. 660, located in the Legislative Section of the Official Gazette, was accepted on May 29, 2025, and entered into force. This Law introduced significant changes in the duties and operations of various public institutions, primarily the Presidency of Religious Affairs:

• Re-regulations in the Law on the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Law No. 633): Certain paragraphs and sub-paragraphs, previously annulled by the Constitutional Court, have been re-regulated.
  • Review of Religious Publications: The duty to review and provide opinions on religious publications requested by official institutions has been redefined.
  • Determination of Prayer Times and Religious Days: The duty to determine and announce prayer times and religious days and nights in cooperation with relevant units and institutions has been strengthened.
  • Quran Translations and Interpretations: The authority was granted to examine or have examined, upon request from the Presidency, other public institutions, private individuals, and organizations, or ex officio, publications made under the name of Quran translations or interpretations.
  • Overseas Personnel Appointments: Principles regarding the appointment of personnel (preachers, Quran course instructors, muezzins-kayyims) to be assigned abroad by the Presidency of Religious Affairs, and provisions regarding temporary or permanent assignments in overseas religious services, have been detailed.
• Personnel Regulation in Local Government Laws: Temporary articles concerning personnel to be assigned abroad have been added to important local government laws such as the Law on Special Provincial Administrations (No. 5302), the Law on Municipalities (No. 5393), and the Law on Metropolitan Municipalities (No. 5216).
• Amendment to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance Decree Law (Decree Law No. 660): A temporary article concerning personnel has also been added to Decree Law No. 660 on the Organization and Duties of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATION SECTION: Appointments and New Regulations

This section included important administrative decisions and new regulations:

• Presidential Decisions:
  • Decision No. 9965: An appointment was made to the vacant position of Director General of Environmental Impact Assessment, Permits, and Supervision within the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
  • Decision No. 9966: A decision regarding the amendment of certain Presidential Decisions was published, mandating changes in some previous Presidential Decisions.
• Regulations:
  • Amendment to the Regulation on Payment of Wages, Premiums, Bonuses, and All Kinds of Such Entitlements Through Banks: Changes were made to the existing regulation concerning the payment of wages, premiums, and bonuses to workers and employees through banks. These amendments aim to increase transparency and security in payment processes.
  • Regulation on Certified Construction Masters: This regulation, emphasizing the importance of qualified labor force in the construction sector, regulates the working principles, qualifications, and certification processes of construction masters holding authorization certificates.
  • AFAD Search and Rescue Technicians and Technical Staff Health Conditions Regulation: A new regulation was published determining the health conditions for search and rescue technicians and technical staff within the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). This is critically important for enhancing disaster response capacity and ensuring personnel meet appropriate health standards.
  • Amendments to National Defense University (MSÜ) Institutes and Postgraduate Education Regulation: Amendments were made to the regulations concerning the organization and operation of institutes affiliated with the National Defense University and postgraduate education and training processes. These regulations aim to modernize and increase the effectiveness of military higher education.

BOARD DECISIONS and JUDICIAL SECTION

This issue of the Official Gazette also featured important board decisions and judicial developments:

• Decisions of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA): Two BRSA decisions concerning the banking sector, dated May 29, 2025 (Decision No. 11220) and May 30, 2025 (Decision No. 11222), were published. These decisions include new steps regarding banking activities and regulations.
• Constitutional Court Decision: The Judicial Section included the Constitutional Court's decision dated March 6, 2025, with files E: 2025/61 and K: 2025/46. Such high court decisions are binding on existing legal regulations and represent an important oversight mechanism in Türkiye's legal system.

The June 4, 2025 Official Gazette offers a comprehensive summary of Türkiye's ongoing law-making, administrative regulation, and judicial processes across a wide spectrum, showcasing the dynamism in the state's governance.