Secularism in Turkey means government controls all religions

Published: 2006-11-16

ROME (CNS) -- Turkey's unique brand of secularism is not separation of religion and state, but rather government control of religion, impacting both the Muslim majority and religious minorities. The government builds and funds mosques, employs Muslim prayer leaders, controls religious education and bans Muslim women and men from wearing certain head coverings in public offices and universities. The Turkish Constitution guarantees the religious freedom of all the country's residents, and a 1923 treaty guarantees that religious minorities will be allowed to found and operate religious and charitable institutions. Secularists in Turkey see control of religion as the only way to guarantee Islam will not overpower the secularism of the state and its institutions. However, the fact that the constitution and Turkish law do not recognize minority religious communities as legal entities has severely limited their ability to own property, and laws restricting private religious higher education have made it almost impossible for them to operate seminaries and schools of theology. Pope Benedict XVI is expected to address the issue of religious freedom guarantees during his Nov. 28-Dec. 1 visit to Turkey.

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