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Diyanet chief Arpaguş joins Rochester mosque opening, meets Turkish Americans in New York
Türkiye's top religious official Safi Arpaguş took part in the ribbon-cutting for the Turkish community's new mosque in Rochester, led prayers at the Mimar Sinan Mosque in Queens and received representatives of 15 Ahiska Turkish associations during his U.S. trip.
Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, president of Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), took part in the opening of the Turkish community's new mosque in Rochester, New York, as part of a U.S. program that also took him to Queens, Manhattan and the Diyanet Center of America in Maryland.
The Rochester mosque was built by the Turkish Society of Rochester together with the Turkish American Religious Foundation (TARF). Its organizers describe it as a house of worship that will serve not only Turkish Americans but the wider Muslim community in the area. Arpaguş cut the ribbon in front of the new building on Oct. 26, joined by officials from Türkiye and members of the community.
'A charity that never ends'
Speaking inside the mosque, Arpaguş explained the Quranic verses inscribed on its walls, praised the building's architecture and decoration and thanked everyone who contributed to its construction.
"With this fine house of worship rising on this land, everyone in this congregation has gained something eternal," he said. "As long as places like this, which help believers come closer to God, remain standing, they will count as an ongoing charity, and the book of good deeds of no one who worked on it will ever be closed. Thank God, I see this happiness and joy in every pair of eyes looking at me now."
Arpaguş conveyed the greetings of the Turkish nation and of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Turks living in the United States, and urged the community to stand together and help young people raised in America hold on to their cultural and spiritual values.
Night prayer at Queens' Mimar Sinan Mosque
In New York City, Arpaguş visited the Mimar Sinan Mosque in Queens, where he led the night (isha) prayer. Addressing Turkish citizens after the prayer, he said younger generations need to be protected from the harmful currents of the modern, technology-driven age, and called for unity and solidarity among Turks living far from home.
Meeting with 15 Ahiska Turkish associations
Arpaguş also received representatives of 15 Ahiska (Meskhetian) Turkish associations organized across the United States. The talks covered the associations' work in the country and their requests and expectations from Diyanet. Many Ahiska Turks in the U.S. arrived through a refugee resettlement program launched in 2004 for families from Russia's Krasnodar region.
New boards for DCA and TARF
At the Diyanet Center of America in Lanham, Maryland, Arpaguş attended the 2026 annual general assemblies of the Diyanet Center of America (DCA) and TARF. The meetings reviewed religious services, education, publishing, youth, academic and cultural programs and social aid across the U.S., along with plans to strengthen the institutions, improve financial transparency and sustainability, and draw more young people into their activities.
New boards of directors were elected at both meetings. Arpaguş thanked the administrators, imams, staff and volunteers who serve in the centers and wished success to those taking office. He also met the staff of the Diyanet Center of America to discuss its work.
Visit to the Turkish House
In Manhattan, Arpaguş visited Türkiye's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız, and New York Consul General Muhittin Ahmet Yazal at the Turkish House (Türkevi). Diyanet's religious, social and cultural services in the United States were among the topics discussed.
Earlier in the trip, Arpaguş met imams and Muslim community leaders at the Diyanet Center of America, where he called on Muslims in the U.S. to stand together against Islamophobia, and held a separate gathering with Turkish Americans in Maryland.
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