Following the rise to power of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey (in 2002), the use of soft power resources to secure the country’s national interests gained increasing prominence. In this regard, attention to religious and spiritual capacities in the international arena found a prominent place in the country’s foreign policy. The main research question is: What are the policy objectives of religious diplomacy in developing Turkey’s soft power during the Justice and Development Party era? The theoretical foundation of the research is based on Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power and religious diplomacy as a subset of cultural diplomacy (with objectives of interaction, influence, and impact based on shared religious affinities). To answer the main question, based on a qualitative approach, data was collected using library, documentary, and semi-structured and unstructured interview methods. Interview data analysis was performed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method. The findings indicate that the policy objectives of Turkey’s religious diplomacy include: reviving regional soft power through the Ottoman legacy, rebuilding religious legitimacy in the Islamic world, presenting the "Turkish Modern Islam" model as a source of global soft power, and protecting the religious identity of the Turkish diaspora. The Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), as the main custodian, pursues these goals in cooperation with institutions such as the Maarif Foundation and DITIB. Overall, Turkey's religious diplomacy is a multi-dimensional and audience-centric approach to expanding soft power, relying on managerial focus, humanitarian and cultural activities, and securing political-economic interests.