BY ERDAL SAFAK
SABAH)- Are you aware that suggestions that Turkey should trade in its French laicism model for the Angolo-Saxon secularism model have started to rise? For example, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc said in Chicago last week, ‘The understanding of secularism in the United States is more suitable to freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.’
Three days after this, Samuel Huntington, whose ideas do not carry very favorable connotations, said in Istanbul, ‘It’s time that Turkey should amend Ataturk’s doctrines.’ Before that, Zeyno Baran, who started to see her country from the viewpoint of American neoconservatives after starting to work in a think-tank in Washington, said at a symposium that ‘Turkey should change its rigid French model for the US model.’
Parliament Constitutional Commission head Burhan Kuzu also said at a symposium in the United States that the time has come to adopt the Anglo-Saxon ‘secularism’ model. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also expressed similar ideas.
However, in our opinion two questions must be answered on this subject: Is there really a ‘rigid’ French laicism model in Turkey? Are the claims that Turkey is turning to a ‘secular’ understanding true?
In order to answer these questions, it will be useful to review French laicism, how it is applied in Turkey, and what Anglo-Saxon secularism is.
French laicism, which is called ‘Jacobin,’ means that religion doesn’t interfere in the state, and the state doesn’t interfere in religion, and religion is removed from the public sphere.
On the other hand, Anglo-Saxon secularism is based on the principle that the state is at an equal distance from all religions and beliefs. This means that the state is secular, but the organization of religious groups is unrestricted. The state’s responsibility is limited to not favoring a particular specific religion or sect, not interfering in their work, and creating a free atmosphere for their religious beliefs.
According to these definitions, secularism in Turkey suits neither the one in France nor that in the United States.
As a matter of fact, in the decisions of the Constitutional Court, it is stressed that secularism in Turkey is one of a kind.