‘Religion, Society and Politics in a Changing Turkey’

CENTRE FOR TURKEY STUDIES

WESTMINSTER DEBATE

‘RELIGION, SOCIETY AND POLITICS IN A CHANGING TURKEY’

15 October 2012

Committee Room 15, House of Commons

Keynote speakers:

Muslum Sari CHP MP for Istanbul

Guven Karatas Istanbul CHP Provincial Vice-President,

Professor Dr Istar Gozaydin of Dogus University

Dr Bill Park of King’s College

Chair: Solicitor Sadiye Arslan LLB

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Summary

The Centre for Turkey Studies hosted a panel with CHP politicians and academics who examined the role of religion in the formations of society and politics in Turkey.

Muslum Sari indicated the financial and social restrictions that the Alawi community experiences due to the state-led policies and that the AKP government reflects a more sectarian approach against non-Sunnis in Turkey.

Dr Istar Gozaydin suggested that the Department of Religious Affairs was built to establish and ensure the state’s presence and role in the social organisation of religion and Sunni understanding of Islam is preeminent in the state’s policies.

Dr Bill Park analysed the increasing conservatism of the government and argued that the governing party came to power as a reaction against years of oppression on religion and religious people in Turkey.

More photos can be found here. 

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