Global Issue Tracker

Turkey has a secular constitution, with no official state religion.[109] The strong tradition of secularism in Turkey is essentially similar to the French model of laïcité, in which the state actively monitors the area between the religions.[27] The constitution recognizes the freedom of religion for individuals, whereas the religious communities are placed under the protection of the state and can't become involved in the political process (e.g. by forming a religious party) or establish faith-based schools. No party can claim that it represents a form of religious belief; nevertheless, religious sensibilities are generally represented through conservative parties.[27] Turkey prohibits by law the wearing of religious headcover and theo-political symbolic garments for both genders in government buildings, schools, and universities;[110] the law was upheld by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights as "legitimate" in the Leyla Şahin v. Turkey case on November 10, 2005.[111]