Konya is also known as the home of the Mevlevi order, the Sufi sect that follows the teachings of Rumi, often called whirling dervishes, due to their distinctive spinning prayer known as Sema.

met on Wednesday with the Sufi sect s’ delegation, where the meeting touched on the overall conditions and challenges facing the country and ways to enhance support for the national ranks.

While his brethren in the Sunni sect supported him, his rivals from the Sufi sect called for his prosecution, accusing him of disrespecting a religious creed. The state government subsequently ...