Parliament speaker's call to remove secularism from Turkey's constitution sparks outrage

Parliament Speaker ?smail Kahraman sparked outrage late on April 25 by suggesting that the principle of secularism "must be removed" from Turkey's constitution, as even members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) voiced disagreement. 

"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. France, Ireland and 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." 

However, the next day Kahraman stepped back from his remarks, saying he had "expressed his personal opinions on the new constitution" and stressing the need to provide a "clear definition of secularism" in the new constitution.

"In the new constitution, the concept of secularism should be defined clearly and concisely, in a manner preventing its abuse and ill-intentioned interpretations," he said. 

In his earlier remarks, Kahraman had referred to the constitutions penned in 1961 and 1982, claiming that they were "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 were made obligatory and this was based on faith," he said. 

Kahraman's comments also drew criticism from within the AKP, with Istanbul deputy Mustafa ?entop, who...