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Non-discrimination of Religious Minorities in Turkey: A Fairytale

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Non-Discrimination in Turkey

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Abstract

In Turkey, the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of religion has been a controversial issue given the fragility of the identity politics; the concept of minority, citizenship, unifying principles and religion being a gluing factor of society.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The exact number of Alevis within the whole population is unknown since many Alevis disguise their identity not to be labeled. On the estimated numbers of Alevis in Turkey see: David Shankland. (2003). The Alevis in Turkey: The Emergence of a Secular Islamic Tradition, p. 20.

  2. 2.

    During the CHP rule, in accordance with the secularization motto; Ezan (Islamic prayer) which is originally in Arabic, was translated to Turkish and called in every mosque in Turkish since 1941. Please see: Erik Jan Zürcher (2014) Modernleşen Türkiye’nin Tarihi, p. 340.

  3. 3.

    For the full version of Lausanne Treaty please see: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/lausanne-peace-treaty-vi_-convention-concerning-the-exchange-of-greek-and-turkish-populations-signed-at-lausanne_.en.mfa.

  4. 4.

    Currently, the total number of the minority foundations settled with the 1935 Law on Foundations is 167; 77 Greek, 54 Armenian, 19 Jewish, 10 Süryani, 3 Keldani, 2 Bulgarian, 1 Georgian, 1 Turkish Orthodox, and 1 Maruni. For the list of these foundations, see: https://www.cemaatvakiflaritemsilcisi.com/index.php/vakiflar.

  5. 5.

    2020 Commission Report on Turkey, p. 38. For the full text of the report see: https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/system/files/2020-10/turkey_report_2020.pdf

  6. 6.

    Application no. 34478/97 “Fener Rum Erkek Lisesi – Türkiye” (2007), Application no. 1480/03 “Samatya Surp Kevork Ermeni Kilisesi, Mektebi ve Mezarlığı Vakfı Yönetim Kurulu - Türkiye” (2008); Application no. 36165/02 “Yedikule Surp Pırgiç Ermeni Hastanesi Vakfı – Türkiye” (2008).

  7. 7.

    The Venice Commission Comments on the Legal Status of non-Muslim Religious Communities in Turkey. For the full version of the Venice Commission please see: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL(2010)012-e.

  8. 8.

    Cumhuriyet, June 23, 2017, “Süryani kiliseleri Diyanet'e verildi.” Accessed on October 14, 2021. Available at: https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/suryani-kiliseleri-diyanete-verildi-767396.

  9. 9.

    The arrangement made by Supreme Council of Education on the status of religious minorities in Religious Culture and Knowledge of Ethics courses on July 9th, 1990 can be found in English in the Judgment of European Court of Human Rights in the “Case of Hasan and Eylem Zengin vs. Turkey” (Application no. 1448/04): http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?item=2&portal=hbkm&action=html&highlight=zengin&sessionid=81026159&skin=hudoc-en.

  10. 10.

    For the English version of the Turkish Constitution see: https://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf.

  11. 11.

    ECtHR, Hasan and Eylem Zengin v. Turkey, Application no. 1448/04, 9 October 2007.

  12. 12.

    ECtHR, Mansur Yalçın and others v. Turkey, Application no. 21163/11, 16 September 2014.

  13. 13.

    Alevi Opening consisted of a series of workshops held between June 2009 and January 2010 under the Ministry of State with the participation of academics, theologians and the leaders of the Alevi community.

  14. 14.

    “Toledo Guiding Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools” prepared by the ODIHR Advisory Council of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief, determine the main principles in religious education in line with the universal principles. For the guideline please see: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/c/e/29154.pdf.

  15. 15.

    Circular of the Ministry of National Education No. 2012/37, dated 31 August 2012. http://ogm.meb.gov.tr/meb_iys_dosyalar/2012_09/05092630_semeliderslergenelge2012.pdf.

  16. 16.

    Compulsory Religious Instruction for the Priest’s Daughter, Radikal, 16 December 2013. http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/papazin-kizina-zorunlu-secmeli-din-dersi-1117075/.

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  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Atılım University, Ankara, Turkey

    Tuğba Gürçel Akdemir

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Correspondence to Tuğba Gürçel Akdemir .

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  1. Atılım University, Ankara, Turkey

    Gözde Yılmaz

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Akdemir, T.G. (2022). Non-discrimination of Religious Minorities in Turkey: A Fairytale. In: Yılmaz, G. (eds) Non-Discrimination in Turkey. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08399-0_3

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