Viral TikTok Trend in Turkey Sparks Outrage Over Mockery of Islamic Prayer Rituals

A controversial TikTok trend sweeping through Turkish youth has ignited widespread backlash for appearing to mock Islamic prayer practices, drawing condemnation from Muslim communities both domestically and internationally.

Dubbed the "Ömer Baba Death Scene" challenge, the fad involves participants imitating a dramatic moment from the long-running Turkish TV series Kurtlar Vadisi (Valley of the Wolves), where a character collapses and "dies" mid-prayer. Videos show groups of teenagers, often in school settings, performing exaggerated versions of salah (Islamic prayer) movements like standing, bowing, and prostrating, before dramatically falling over, sometimes in synchronized groups.

The trend, which exploded in popularity around mid-December, features humorous overlays, fake beards, and captions in Turkish such as "Birileri bir şeyler mi yapıyor? Yapmıyor gerecektiyor" (loosely translated as "Is someone doing something? They had to do it").

While some creators insist it's a lighthearted homage to the show's iconic scene, critics argue it disrespects a sacred ritual, particularly the concept of dying in prayer, which is revered in Islam as a sign of piety. Escalating variations have included instances of participants kicking objects resembling the Quran or adding text implying rejection of faith.

Social media platforms have seen the trend rack up millions of views, with hundreds of clips circulating on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. It appears most prevalent among Gen Z in urban, secular-leaning areas, reflecting Turkey's historical tension between its Muslim-majority population and the secular foundations established by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Some observers link the phenomenon to gaps in religious education in public schools, while others speculate it could be amplified by organized efforts to undermine Islamic values.

A counter-hashtag, #NamazaSaygı ("Respect the Prayer"), has gained traction, with users sharing Quranic verses, warning against ridiculing faith. Prominent voices, including Islamic scholars and outlets like 5Pillars and Muslim Daily, have called it "vile" and demanded action from Turkey's Ministry of Education and prosecutors, including suspensions for involved students.

On the flip side, defenders on platforms like Reddit describe it as harmless meme culture, akin to parodying movie deaths, and invoke freedom of expression in a secular society.

As of today, TikTok has reportedly removed some offending videos amid complaints, but no official statement from the Turkish government has been issued.

Analysts, such as Dr. Abdullah Al-Amadi, suggest the trend may highlight deeper generational shifts away from organized religion.