Secularism shouldn't be in Turkey's new constitution: Parliament speaker

(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) >Secularism must not feature in the new constitution Parliament Speaker smail Kahraman said on April 25 drawing criticism from the opposition parties as well as his own party the Justice and Development Party (AKP). “As a Muslim country why should we be in a situation where we are retreating from religion? We are a Muslim country. So we must have a religious constitution” Kahraman said in a conference titled “New Turkey and New Constitution” in Istanbul stressing that “as a Muslim country” Turkey’s constitution should be religious. “A description of secularism shouldn’t be in the new constitution. FranceIrelandand Turkey have constitutions that include a description of secularism. But everyone interprets it the way they want to. That shouldn’t be the case” he added suggesting that the charter should “cohere with society.” Kahraman referred to the constitutions penned in 1961 and 1982 claiming they are “religious constitutions” despite the fact that the word “Allah” does not come up in either of the texts. “Both the 1961 and 1982 constitutions are religious. Religion classes are obligatory and this is based on faith” he said. Kahraman’s comments also drew criticism from within the AKP with Istanbul deputy Mustafa entop who also heads parliament’s constitution commission saying the issue was not under discussion. “We have secularism in our efforts for a new constitution. We haven’t discussed the removal of secularism from the constitution” said entop on April 26 stressing that Kahraman was not speaking on behalf of the party. AKP Deputy Group Chair Naci Bostanc also commented on Kahraman’s statements stressing that such a change in the constitution was not on the AKP’s agenda. “[Prime Minister Ahmet Davutolu] will probably make an evaluation concerning this. [The AKP] doesn’t have any problem with secularism. We don’t have such an agenda in the draft constitution” said Bostanc at parliament on April 25. Kahraman’s comments have also been slammed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) with party headKemal Klçdaroluquestioning the ruling AKP’s priorities. “Soldiers are being killed every day. Rockets are raining [down on Kilis] from across the border. But your only concern is secularism. Stop abusing religion for your dirty calculations” Klçdarolu wrote on his Twitter account referring to clashes between security forces and the outlawedKurdistan Workers’ Party(PKK) and attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on the southeastern province of Kilis near the Syrian border. “Above all else secularism is a principle for social peace. We shouldn’t be surprised by the negligence of this principle by those who have been aiming at our social peace for a long time. Mr. Kahraman! The chaos in the Middle East is the product of ways of thinking that like you make religion an instrument of politics.Secularism exists so that everyone can practice their religion freely” added Klçdarolu. CHP Deputy Group Chair Levent Gök also reacted harshly to Kahraman’s comments describing them as “unacceptable.” “I seriously condemn the parliament speaker’s words. We cannot accept these comments” said Gök in his speech in parliament on April 25 adding that Kahraman cannot continue as parliament speaker after such comments. “The parliament speaker should resign immediately” he said. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahçeli also criticized Kahraman’s statements saying he had “made a mistake” and should “step back from it.” “It is not a right approach for a parliamentary speaker who was chosen based on the constitution to open the first four articles of the constitution into discussion” said Bahçeli on April 26.

“It is not right to express thoughts about constitutional changes and open up to discussion secularism which is within the first four articles that are accepted and put as a pre-condition by the nation” he added.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Figen Yüksekda has also criticized Parliament Speaker smail Kahraman’s comments on removing secularism from Turkey’s constitution saying the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) “true colors have been shown.”

“Do they want a religious constitution because they are religious? But in their perception of religiousness acquitting thieves and corrupt people is a duty” said Yüksekda at an HDP parliamentary group meeting on April 26.

She also claimed that Kahraman’s remarks were linked to the AKP’s bid to introduce an executive presidential system to Turkey.

“They are trying to cover the draft constitution with the holiness of religion in order to pass a constitution that includes the presidential system in a referendum. But the people of Turkey won’t be deceived and won’t fall for this lie. Those who clearly see that the society won’t accept a constitution including the presidential system think they can pass it by abusing people’s religious sentiments. But this abuse has no future” added Yüksekda.

Stressing that the HDP wants a democratic constitution “for the people and for humanity” Yüksekda said her party proposes a model of “real and liberal secularism” involving freedom for every faith.

“Today the constitution needed by the people of Turkey is democratic and centered on women nature and society. They discuss everything [at the constitution commission] but they don’t talk about the people. But regardless of these manipulations we will continue our struggle to make such a charter” she added.

Meanwhile police on fired tear gas to disperse a group of more than 100 demonstrators who had gathered outside parliament to protest Kahraman's remarks AFP reported.

The group chanted the slogan "Turkey will remain secular" as afew protesters were detained.