Secularism: the Pillar of the Turkish Republican identity

Since the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 the secularism « la laïcité » is discussed much more than any other topic and its denial meant the denial of Turkish Republic. However, what does secularism mean for Turkey? Is it the reinforcement of elite's authorities? Or is it the definition of Republic? Nowadays, how do we understand secularism and do we need to redefine it?

In Turkey most of the academic works about secularism are still not brining any additional value rather than staying as another description of secularism. The dictionary description of secularism « la laïcité » is that, the state must be natural against all religious beliefs and do not stand as a reference point for any religion. But in practice, the secularism cannot be defined as straight as its definition, it never appears with those sharp borders and in that purity.

The factors, which are transforming secularism from a legitimate view to a control mechanism, are its symbols and myths that are considered as part of secularism. Actually, these myths and symbols are forming an undeniable political religion. For that reason most of the previous academic works which are analyzing secularism by considering these myths and symbols as an add-on to the term of secularism, pushed us to look and create a new definition of this concept. 

In this work, we will analyse the historical and philosophical basis of secularism. We will also trace the origin and the formation of secularism as a political religion opposite to the traditional and political Islam.

The final part of work will observe secularism in the light of the jurisprudence of the European Convention of Human Rights and, the democracy in order to understand if the notion of secularism in Turkey requires redefinition.