A review over the secularism in Turkey

1. SECULARISM IN TURKEY
1. The principle of secularismwasinspiredbydevelopmentsinOttomansociety,inorder
to create a modernsocietyinwhichequalitywasguaranteedtoall citizenswithout
distinctionongroundsof religion,denominationorsex. Itwas createdan ideaof public
sphere whichshouldbe more neutral andasa neutral space, there shouldnotbe any
visibiltyforreligioussignsorethnicdifferences.
2. It triedto teacha way of living,away of thinking,awayof reasoning,anditbecame a
vectorof modernizationinthe directionof westerncivilization,soitisnotonlya neutral
conceptof the publicsphere,butreallyamodernistproject.
3. Unfortunately,the simple use of headscarf isstill seenasathreat to the secularism
workingprocess.Thisiswhatwe want to prevent.The courtmustpreventpeople toput
the supposedmodernisingprojectaheadof humanrightsandpersonal freedoms,evenif it
isaccording to the State’slaw.It’scrucial to bear inmindthat the Conventionfor Human
Rightsisabsolute andmustbe strictlyfollowedbyitssignatures.
4. In comparative law,it’spossible tofindsome reallytolerantexamples:Austria,
German,Netherlands,Spain,Sweden,Switzerlandandthe Ukare countrieswhere there
are isno special legislationconcerningthe usage of veil.Generally,theyconsiderthat
banningitwouldbe onlyjustifiesif itposesahealthorsafetyhazardfor pupils.
STATE AUTONOMYIN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
5. In addition, asstressedinthe article 3 of recommendationnumber1353 adoptedin
1998 inthe Council of Europe,“Highereducation hasa key role to play in the promotion of
human rightsand fundamentalfreedomsand thestrengthening of pluralisticdemocracy
and toleranceand widening opportunities formemberof all groupsin society to participate
in it contributeto securing democracy and building confidencein situation of social tension.
6. Evenunderthe aim to pursue the principle of secularism,the banonwearingthe
Isdlamicheadscarf wasan unjustifiedinterferenceinherrightto manifestherreligion,
since itwasn’ta threat to anybody’shealth,safe,orfaith. Herchoice to use the veil had
beenbasedonherown convictions,whichwasthe mostimportantrightthat pluralisticand
liberal democracyhadgrantedher.AsI had alreadysaidinmy lastspeeches,ademocratic
societycanonlybe possible if secularism, libertyandequalitycoexistwithoutsuperim
posingone another.
7. I’dlike torememberyouall aboutsome precedentcaseswe haddealtwithinthis
court.