Reactions Against ‘No Secularism’ Comment of Parliamentary Speaker

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Following the phrases of Parliamentary Speaker İsmail Kahraman that “Secularism shouldn’t take place in the new constitution. Our constitution shouldn’t avoid religious constitution matter. It should mention religiously”, opposition, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) members, and protesters trying to march towards the Parliament have started to raise objections.

March to the Parliament for secularism

Enlightenment Against Bigotry Movement and Joint June Movement have decided to hold protest at Dikmen door of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) upon Karaman’s words, however police have prevented protesters trying to march to the Parliament.

Kılıçdaroğlu: Haven’t you still learned your lesson?

Republic People’s Party (CHP) Leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu at his party’s group meeting said, “Either believe in this state, supremacy of law, secularism, social law state, or abandon that seat”.

“Secularism means liberty of religion and conscience. It guarantees liberty of religion and conscience. State must be blind in terms of ethnic identity and belief.

“I want to ask Mr. Parliamentary Speaker. Bloodbath takes place in the Middle East. Haven’t you still learned your lesson? Political institution cannot intervene in my belief, my citizen’s belief. Secularism is the assurance of secularism. Secularism is being human, respecting human”.

Yüksekdağ: Cover of a constitution for presidential system

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair, Figen Yüksekdağ has touched on secularism discussion at her party’s group meeting. Yüksekdağ describe the controversion as “a cover to pass the constitution for presidential system”.

“Look into Turkey’s history; polarizations developed over religion discrimination, slaughters carried out against people with different beliefs, which one of these has brought peace? Today, the lands we want to call ‘common homeland’ have been turned to a geography of slaughters on this base. They are on the way to establish hegemony by emphasizing religion stronger instead of making away with this crime. And today, they are instrumentalising religion to justify a constitution for presidential system, constitution of dictatorship.

Bahçeli: The Parliamentary Speaker should correct his mistake

The Natioanlist Movement Party (MHP) Leader, Devlet Bahçeli at his party’s group meeting reacting Kahraman’s words said, “According to our Constitution, it is not a correct approach that an elected Parliamentary Speaker opens first four articles of the Constitution up for discussion. That is not a right approach. Mr. Parliamentary Speaker should correct his mistake”.

Objection from the AKP

There are objections against Karaman’s words on secularism from AKP as well.

AKP İstanbul MP and Constitution Commission President, Mustafa Şentop said Kahraman didn’t speak on behalf of the party. “We haven’t even discussed taking the secularism off the constitution text. Secularism takes place in our constitution proposal. The issue is not in secularism but in its practice”.

AKP Group Vice President, Naci Bostancı last night said, “The AKP has no problem with the secularism. We don’t have such an agenda in the Constitution draft”. (HK/TK)