Religion in Turkey

About 98% of Turkey's population is Muslim (about two-thirds Sunni, one-third Shia).The remaining small part is composed of Orthodox Christians, Gregorian Christians, Catholic, Suryani and Protestant Christians, and Jews. Although most of the population is Moslem, Turkey is a secular country and everyone has the freedom to choose his religion and beliefs. Also, nobody can be forced to participate in religious ceremonies or rites against their will.

Currently, Turkey is the only country among the Islamic countries which has included secularism in its Constitution and practices it. The secularization of Turkey took place after the collapse of the 6-century Islamic-reigned Ottoman Empire in the 1920's and mainly as a result of the independence war led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Although the concept of "secularism" was included in the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey in 1937, the principle of secularism had existed in fact since the very foundation of the Republic. Now an organization called the "Chairmanship of Religious Affairs" is responsible for carrying out activities related to the beliefs of the Islamic religion, the principles of worship and morality, as well as to manage the places of worship. It is represented by Muftis in the provinces and counties who instill the principles of Islam, such as unity, cooperation and helping one another, among the Turkish people according to the principles specified in the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, eventually aiming at achieving national solidarity and unity.