 Despite its official secularism, the Turkish government includes the state agency of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (), whose purpose is stated by law "to execute the works concerning the beliefs, worship, and ethics of Islam, enlighten the public about their religion, and administer the sacred worshiping places".The institution, commonly known simply as "Diyanet", operates 77,500 mosques, builds new ones, pays the salaries of imams, and approves all sermons given in mosques in Turkey.The Presidency of Religious Affairs finances only Sunni Muslim worship in Turkey.