Sezer on secularism

For this reason, the aim of certain trends against the democratic secular Republic has always been chipping away at this cornerstone. Arguing that Turkey’s problems on this issue come from efforts to interpret secularism differently, Sezer said, ‘Ataturk cited not dogma, but reason and science as beacons so our progress cannot be halted. With the establishment of the Republic, he chose modernity. The adoption of the principle of secularism is the natural result of this choice.’ This choice also determined our Republic’s path. Secularism is the basic requirement of modern democratic countries. Sezer defined the function and implementation of the principle of secularism as follows: ‘Our renowned Ataturk knew the structure of the community in which he lived, and he placed the principle of secularism at the basis of his transformations towards modernization and democratization. The principle of secularism has been implemented in the fields of administration and education, and stage by stage in the social field and legal system, this principle foreseeing that our political, social, legal and economic fields cannot be regulated by religious rules, and it is the cornerstone of the values establishing the Turkish Republic.’

Sezer’s speech highlighted recent areas of contention. We’ve been suffering from conflicts and tension due to efforts to banish secularism from our nation’s administration, education, social life and legal system in favor of domination by religious rules and symbols. This political approach interprets democracy and freedom to mean that education is mostly wearing a headscarf, and it also tries to provide headscarf-wearing personnel with the right to work in government and put private and public institutions on a religious basis. So it’s trying to reach its goal using the opportunities and values of democracy. Some try to defend these initiatives as representing democracy and human rights. However, the conflict between the intention and the thrust of the steps is too clear to be hidden. A Turkey which implements this secularism in every area of life can provide an atmosphere in harmony with the European Union. Those who object to this secular foundation cannot create such a Turkey, and this basic contradiction is insuperable.”