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| Secularism in Turkey | |
|---|---|
| Title | Secularism in Turkey |
| Caption | Anıtkabir, mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk |
| Date | 20th–21st centuries |
| Location | Ankara, Istanbul, Turkey |
Secularism in Turkey emerged as a defining principle of the modern Republic of Turkey under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and evolved through constitutions, parties, courts, and social movements. Rooted in the abolition of the Ottoman Empire's theocratic institutions and influenced by French secularism, Kemalism, and Atatürkism reshaped state institutions, law, and public life. The principle has provoked enduring disputes involving the Constitution of Turkey, the Council of State (Turkey), the Constitutional Court of Turkey, and political actors such as the Republican People's Party (Turkey), the Justice and Development Party (Turkey), and the Nationalist Movement Party.
The origins trace to the end of the Ottoman Empire and reforms like the Tanzimat and Young Turk Revolution before Turkish War of Independence culminated in the Abolition of the Caliphate and proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk implemented radical reforms: the 1924 Constitution (Turkey), the secularization of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Turkey), the closure of madrasah networks, adoption of the Turkish alphabet reform, and legal replacements such as the Swiss Civil Code. Early measures involved the Hat Law of 1925, the 1925 Law on the Maintenance of Order, and the suppression of uprisings including the Sheikh Said rebellion. The interwar era and single-party period entrenched Kemalism as the ruling ideology, while post-World War II pluralism brought the Democrat Party (Turkey) and later multi-party politics into conflict over secular norms.
Secularism is codified in articles of the Constitution of Turkey, interpreted by the Constitutional Court of Turkey, and enforced by institutions such as the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and the Council of State (Turkey). Key statutes include the Law on the Maintenance of Order, regulations on religious education, and jurisprudence from the Court of Cassation (Turkey). European adjudication through the European Court of Human Rights and interactions with the European Union accession process shaped legal debates, while national bodies like the Grand National Assembly of Turkey passed reforms affecting religious affairs. Administrative measures by municipal governments such as Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and provincial governors often intersect with national rulings.
Political contention involves parties across the spectrum: Republican People's Party (Turkey), Justice and Development Party (Turkey), Nationalist Movement Party, Felicity Party (Turkey), and People's Republican Party factions. Landmark events include the 1980 Turkish coup d'état, the 1997 Turkish military memorandum (postmodern coup), and the political rise of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Debates over secularism have informed party bans like those enforced by the Constitutional Court of Turkey against Islamist-oriented parties and legal cases such as the 1998 ban of Necmettin Erbakan's Welfare Party (Turkey). Coalition politics, electoral jurisprudence by the Supreme Electoral Council (Turkey), and mass mobilizations like protests in Taksim Square have further politicized secular-religious fault lines.
Secularization shaped urban-rural divides across regions like Anatolia, Marmara Region, and Southeastern Anatolia Region, influencing family law, public dress codes, and cultural institutions such as the Istanbul Modern and national theaters. Tensions played out in incidents involving mosques, bazaars, and media outlets like Hürriyet and Yeni Şafak. Intellectual currents from figures like Sadi Irmak, Ziya Gökalp, and Nâzım Hikmet interacted with movements such as secular nationalism and political Islam, affecting civil society groups like Turkish Medical Association and trade unions including Türk-İş. Demographic shifts, internal migration, and globalization altered religious practice, charitable organizations, and philanthropic foundations derived from former waqf institutions.
Educational reform was central: secular curriculum changes in İstanbul University, the establishment of state teacher training institutions, and secularization of primary schooling followed the 1924 Tevhid-i Tedrisat Kanunu which unified education under state control. Debates have involved the Ministry of National Education (Turkey), private Imam Hatip schools, and higher education governance by the Council of Higher Education (Turkey). International standards from bodies like UNESCO and pressure from the European Union influenced curricular content, academic freedom cases, and university autonomy controversies exemplified in disputes at institutions such as Bogazici University.
Regulation of religious attire touched institutions including the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, universities, and public offices. The headscarf ban affected members of parliament, civil servants, and students, prompting rulings by the Constitutional Court of Turkey and appeals to the European Court of Human Rights. Policy shifts under recent governments led to changes in prohibitions, affecting women in workplaces, cadet schools, and diplomatic missions, and involving personalities like Abdülkadir Aksu and Mehmet Görmez. Debates extended to religious schools, military dress codes at places like the Turkish Armed Forces, and symbolic disputes in municipal settings.
Contemporary issues encompass reforms to the Constitution of Turkey, the role and expansion of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, tensions with secularist institutions such as the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (Turkey), and legal confrontations in the European Court of Human Rights. Events like the Gezi Park protests and policy shifts under the Justice and Development Party (Turkey) leadership highlight ongoing contention. Challenges include balancing religious freedom with secularist principles amid regional geopolitics involving Syria, relationships with the European Union, and domestic polarization that engages civil society actors, political parties, judiciary bodies, and international organizations.
Category:Politics of Turkey Category:Religion in Turkey