Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sought to reassure concerned secularists on Wednesday that religious freedom will be enshrined in the new draft constitution being put forward by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
"Secularism will feature in the new constitution we draft as a principle that guarantees citizens' freedom of religion and faith and that ensures the state is at an equal distance from all faith groups," Davutoglu said in a televised speech.
Turkey's secular democracy, Davutoglu stressed, is "not up for debate" he added.
The Prime Ministers comments follow a remark made by Turkey's Speaker of Parliament, Ismail Kahraman on Monday. On that occasion Kahraman insisted that, "We are a Muslim country ... Secularism cannot feature in the new constitution."
He climbed down from that statement on Tuesday by claiming he was merely expressing his view and not the view of the ruling Justice and Development Party which is supported by Islamists in Turkey.
However his remarks were quickly condemned by the head of Turkey's CHP opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu who tweeted, "The chaos that reigns in the Middle East is the product of ways of thinking that, like you, make religion an instrument of politics."
The AKP will need to secure 330 seats in Turkey's 550-seat parliament in order to put the new draft constitution to a referendum. It presently holds 317.
"Secularism will feature in the new constitution we draft as a principle that guarantees citizens' freedom of religion and faith and that ensures the state is at an equal distance from all faith groups," Davutoglu said in a televised speech.
Turkey's secular democracy, Davutoglu stressed, is "not up for debate" he added.
The Prime Ministers comments follow a remark made by Turkey's Speaker of Parliament, Ismail Kahraman on Monday. On that occasion Kahraman insisted that, "We are a Muslim country ... Secularism cannot feature in the new constitution."
He climbed down from that statement on Tuesday by claiming he was merely expressing his view and not the view of the ruling Justice and Development Party which is supported by Islamists in Turkey.
However his remarks were quickly condemned by the head of Turkey's CHP opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu who tweeted, "The chaos that reigns in the Middle East is the product of ways of thinking that, like you, make religion an instrument of politics."
The AKP will need to secure 330 seats in Turkey's 550-seat parliament in order to put the new draft constitution to a referendum. It presently holds 317.
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