Turkey Islam: Top AKP politician calls for religious constitution

Turkey's parliament speaker Ismail Kahraman called in April 2016 for taking traditional secularism out of the country's new constitution, arguing Turkey is a Muslim country. Mr Kahraman is overseeing work on the draft document.

Prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu later stated that Turkey's secular and democratic character was 'not up for debate'.

Turkish police fired tear gas to break up protests as a result of the statements on Turkey's islamisation.

• Primary Source

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Deutsche Welle, 26.04.16: Opinion: Sharia in Turkey - Not the real problem http://dw.com/p/1Id7B

Deutsche Welle, 27.04.16: Turkey PM pledges secularism in draft constitution http://dw.com/p/1IdKw

France24, 26.04.16: Turkey’s push for constitutional reform reveals rifts over secularism http://www.france24.com/en/20160426-turkey-push-constitutional-reform-reveals-rifts-over-secularism

Euronews, 26.04.16: Outrage at call for secular Turkey to adopt a ‘religious’ constitution http://www.euronews.com/2016/04/26/outrage-at-call-for-secular-turkey-to-adopt-a-religious-constitution/

Deutsche Welle, 26.04.16: Turkey's parliament speaker Kahraman demands Islamic constitution http://dw.com/p/1IcZu

Hürriyet Daily News, 27.04.16: [Opinion] Secularism is the key for democracy in a Muslim society http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/secularism-is-the-key-for-democracy-in-a-muslim-society.aspx?pageID=449&nID=98373&NewsCatID=409

EurActiv, 27.04.16: Turks protest Islamisation push http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/turks-protest-erdogan-islamisation-push/

EurActiv, 28.04.16: Turkey to seek ‘liberal interpretation’ of secularism in new constitution http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/turkey-to-seek-liberal-interpretation-of-secularism-in-new-constitution/

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 28.04.16: A religious constitution for Turkey? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/158268/a-religious-constitution-for-turkey

AK Parti: News, 27.04.16: Secularism will remain in new constitution https://www.akparti.org.tr/english/haberler/secularism-will-remain-in-new-constitution/83767#1

ESO: Background information: Erdoğan stands for Presidency, invokes Allah http://www.europeansources.info/record/erdogan-stands-for-presidency-invokes-allah/

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