Freedom of Religion and Belief in Turkey

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-vii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Özgür Heval Çınar

   Pages 1-5

3. The Religion Box on the National Identity Card: Being Compelled to Reveal One’s Religion and Beliefs

   • Özgür Heval Çınar

   Pages 7-33

4. The Military-Nation and Conscientious Objectors

   • Özgür Heval Çınar

   Pages 35-55

5. Unresolved Issue: Compulsory Religious Education

   • Özgür Heval Çınar

   Pages 57-79

6. Recognition of Faith Groups and the Opening of Places of Worship

   • Özgür Heval Çınar

   Pages 81-113

7. The Manifestation of Religious Belief in the Public Sphere: Religious Symbols and Dress

   • Özgür Heval Çınar

   Pages 115-140

8. Back Matter

   Pages 141-148

   PDF

The freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, from which stem the tenets of pluralism, tolerance, and open-mindedness, are some of the most basic freedoms of a democratic society.  This book illustrates the current state of the freedom of religion or belief in Turkey and the challenges and complex problems facing it, concentrating on the most topical issues: being compelled to reveal one’s religion and beliefs on the national identity card; the right of conscientious objection and conscientious objectors; compulsory religious education; recognition of faith groups and the opening of places of worship; and using and wearing religious symbols and dress in the public sphere.

• religious freedom
• Justice and Development Party (AKP)
• Council of Europe
• Ergodan
• Human Rights Law

"This is a timely book on the freedom of religion and belief in Turkey at a seminal point in its modern history.  Using both international and domestic law, the book examines important issues relating to private beliefs, minority rights and their standing, as well as state involvement in religion and the impact on Turkey’s secularity." (Leonard Hammer, David and Andrea Stein Visiting Professor of Modern Israel Studies,  University of Arizona, USA)

 

" A very timely and valuable contribution to human rights scholarship." (İştar Gözaydın, Recipient of the Lisl and Leo Eitinger Human Rights Award)

 

"In July 2020, President Erdoğan decreed that the Hagia Sophia in İstanbul, built as an Orthodox Christian church, should once again become a mosque. Özgür H. Çınar has written the definitive, lucid, and readable guide to understanding the issues at stake in Erdoğan’s decisive break with 86 years of secularism in Turkey. This newbook is highly recommended." (Bill Bowring, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK)

 

“This volume will prove to be one of the most important contributions to the field of human rights, in general, and to freedom of religion and belief, in particular. Libraries and scholars should have it as a reference, as should judges, lawyers, and public administrators. University and college courses in public policy, philosophy, religion, or in comparative and international law will find it very useful.”  (Winston Langley, Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA)

• School of Law and Criminology, University of Greenwich, London, UK

  Özgür Heval Çınar

Özgür Heval Çinar is a lawyer and an associate professor at the University of Greenwich, School of Law and Criminology, UK.

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