Suleyman Yeniceri, a mufti (official who is in charge of Islamic affairs for a province or district) in Turkey, criticized Santa Claus and expressed a suspicion over his existence.

Yeniceri said: “Had Santa Claus been a ‘decent’ man, he would not have entered [a home] through the chimney; he would have entered in normal fashion, [that is,] through the door,” Milliyet daily of Turkey writes.   

These words by the Turkish mufti were covered by the press, and subsequently an investigation was launched against him.