Turkish Parliament Speaker: We Are an Islamic Country, Our Constitution Should Be Religious

A senior member of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party has called for secularism to be removed from the country’s new constitution, stating that Turkey is an Islamic nation.

Ismail Kahraman, speaker of the Turkish Parliament who is overseeing the drafting of Turkey’s new constitution, has said his country should have a religious constitution.

His remarks were condemned by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party.

However, the head of Turkey’s constitutional commission said the Justice and Development Party has not discussed removing secularism from the constitution.

Critics of the ruling party are concerned about the erosion of the foundations of modern secular Turkey.

Opposition parties in Turkey are worried that the new Turkish constitution will grant extensive powers to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country’s president. Mr. Erdoğan wants the presidency with greater powers and authorities to replace the current parliamentary system.

Turkey is a NATO member and seeks to join the European Union, and has traditionally been presented as a model country with a secular democratic system for the Islamic world.

Mr. Kahraman said at a meeting in Istanbul: “We are a Muslim country and consequently we should have a religious constitution.”

The Turkish Parliament speaker said “secularism should not be in the new constitution.”

Mustafa Şentop, head of Turkey’s constitutional commission and a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party, responded by saying such a matter has not been discussed in the party.

He told the French news agency that the Turkish Parliament speaker was not speaking on behalf of the Justice and Development Party.

The Justice and Development Party wants to change the constitution. Turkey’s current constitution was drafted during military rule in 1980 and contains no religious provisions.

Over the past two years, the Turkish government has lifted the ban on wearing headscarves for women in schools, universities, and state institutions. The government has also imposed restrictions on alcohol sales and attempted to ban mixed student dormitories.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party, responding to Mr. Kahraman’s remarks, said “the turmoil that prevails in the Middle East is due to thinking that uses religion as a tool of politics.”

Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu said “the reason for secularism is so that everyone can freely practice their religion.”

The Turkish government has committed to making European human rights standards the basis of Turkey’s new constitution.

The Justice and Development Party currently holds 317 seats in Turkey’s 550-member parliament. The party needs 330 votes to present its draft and must secure votes from several representatives of other parties.

Source: BBC Persian