Throughout early 2016, Turkey’s Parliament struggled to agree over the country’s proposed
constitutional overhaul.
The Parliamentary Speaker suggested that Turkey adopt a religious constitution, as it would
reflect the country’s majority Muslim population.
But the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, dismissed the idea of a religious constitution while
supporting the country’s Muslim culture.
Caught between East and West, Turkey has grappled with its religious and cultural identity for
as long as it has existed.
So, is Turkey a Muslim nation?
Or is it Secular?
Well, according to its current constitution, Turkey is secular, and has been since its
birth as a nation in the early 1920’s.
Turkey’s founder and first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, transformed the former Ottoman-Turkish
state into a secular republic, with the belief that Western politics and values were the
only way the new country would modernize.
This Western, secular ideology, called “Kemalism”, came to define Turkey’s identity, and remained
largely unchallenged until a coup d’etat in 1980.
The country’s new military government reversed course and encouraged the practice of Islam
in public life, in an attempt to drum up nationalism and prevent communist or leftist sympathies.
This effectively brought Islam back into the political conversation, and paved the way
for Islam-focused politicians like Erdogan to gain popularity.
One of the best representations of Turkey’s ongoing religious debate can been seen in
its public school system.
Throughout the second half of the 20th century, religious education was gradually integrated
into public schools.
But the 1980 military coup made such Islamic studies mandatory, and also facilitated a
sharp increase in “Imam Hatip” schools, which base their curriculum on the teachings
of Islam.
After Erdogan took power in 2002, the number of students attending these religious public
schools nearly doubled, as many secular ones were converted into religious schools.
The change has been met with resistance from secular parents, many of whom have no choice
but to place their child in such an institution.
This and countless other attempts by Erdogan and his ruling party to “Islamize” the
country have been met with widespread public opposition.
This may come as a surprise, as official reports show that the country’s population is somewhere
between 95 and 99 percent Muslim.
However, these numbers have raised questions, as every Turkish citizen is automatically
registered as Muslim at birth.
We spoke with Istanbul-based Journalist Suzy Hansen, who told us that many Turks self-identify
as Muslim, but are not religious, just as many Americans call themselves Christian,
even if they don’t follow Christianity.
It’s safe to say that Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country.
However, a 2016 Pew Report showed that only 13 percent of Turks believe that the Quran
should directly influence their country’s laws.
Suzy Hansen says that most of Turkey’s current polarization is not along religious lines,
but political and ethnic ones.
That is, those who are for Erdogan versus those who oppose him, and those who support
Kurdish rights versus those who do not.
As the ruling party continues to wield power, the debate will undoubtedly continue.
The growing sovereignty of Erdogan and his ruling party recently led to a failed attempt
at a coup d’etat.
For an explainer on why President Erdogan is so controversial, watch our video.
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