Privacy Policy

Mescitbul (the "app") is a mobile application that provides mosque and prayer-space finding, qibla direction detection, missed-prayer tracking, and prayer-time display services. This document explains which data is collected while using the app, for what purposes and how; who it is shared with; and your rights under Turkey's Law on the Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 ("KVKK").

Under KVKK, your personal data is processed, in the capacity of data controller, by Mescitbul within the scope described in this document. For any questions, you can use the contact information in Article 12.

Location: With your permission, your (GPS) location is accessed to calculate the qibla direction, show mosques/prayer spaces near you, and calculate prayer times for your region. Location is only used while the app is in the foreground; you are never tracked in the background.

Account information: If you sign in with your Google account, your email address, name, and profile photo link are obtained. You can also use the app without signing in (as a "guest"); in that case, an anonymous identifier randomly generated on your device, which cannot be linked to your hardware, is used.

User contributions: The mosque/prayer-space information you add (name, address, location, amenities), photos you upload, issue reports, and verification actions are stored linked to your account and go through moderator review.

Missed-prayer tracking data — special category data notice: The counts of missed prayers/fasts are stored on your device only, by default. If you are signed in and have turned on cloud sync yourself, this data is also saved to Mescitbul's servers. Because this type of data may reveal information about your religious practice, it may be considered special category personal data under Article 6 of KVKK; sending it to the cloud depends entirely on your explicit choice and is off by default.

Feedback: When you submit feedback from within the app, the topic you select, the email address you provide (which may differ from your account email), and your message are stored so we can respond to you.

Usage and analytics data: To understand and improve how the app is used, screen views and certain in-app events (e.g. adding a place, completing a record) are recorded numerically/categorically, tied to an anonymous device-specific identifier. These records do not include any free text you write (messages, notes, etc.).

Notifications: Prayer-time notifications are scheduled entirely on your device; no data is sent to a server for this purpose.

To provide the app's core functions (qibla, finding prayer spaces, showing times, missed-prayer tracking); to create and manage your account; to review and publish your contributions; to respond to your feedback; to analyze and improve the app; to comply with legal obligations; and to prevent misuse.

Data is processed based on the grounds listed in Articles 5 and 6 of KVKK: explicit consent, the establishment/performance of a contract, the data controller's legitimate interest, and legal obligation. Sending missed-prayer tracking data — which may be considered special category data — to the cloud relies separately and solely on your explicit consent.

Your data is shared with the following service providers, only for the stated purposes: Google (for Sign in with Google, and, if you choose, backup to a private, app-specific area of Google Drive), Firebase/Google (for usage analytics), Cloudinary (to host photos you upload), and the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı) — Awqat Salah API (your location information is sent to this service, via the Mescitbul server, to calculate prayer times and daily verse/hadith/dua content).

These providers' servers may be located abroad; in that case, the transfer is carried out in accordance with KVKK's provisions on the transfer of personal data abroad. Mescitbul never sells or rents your data to third parties for marketing/advertising purposes.

Your data is retained for as long as your account is active, or as long as required for the purposes above. When you delete your account (via Settings → Profile, or the Delete Account page on this site), the data linked to your account is permanently deleted from our servers.

Under Article 11 of KVKK, you have the right to: learn whether your data is being processed; request information about it if so; learn the purpose of processing; know the third parties it is transferred to, domestically or abroad; request correction if it is processed incompletely or incorrectly; request its deletion/destruction; request that these actions be notified to third parties to whom the data was transferred; object to a result that is to your detriment arising from analysis exclusively through automated systems; and request compensation for damages if you suffer harm due to unlawful processing. To exercise these rights, you may apply to the address in Article 12, or delete your account directly from within the app.

Mescitbul does not knowingly intend to collect data from children under the age of 13. If you are under 13, we recommend using the app under a parent/guardian's supervision.

Your data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) and protected against unauthorized access with reasonable technical/administrative measures. We would like to remind you that no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

This policy may be updated in line with changes to the app or legal requirements. You will be notified from within the app of any material changes.

For questions about privacy or requests under KVKK: gksstudio.dev@gmail.com