IS TURKEY A MUSLIM COUNTRY?
Turkey is a country located between European and Middle Eastern countries. It is surrounded by sea on 3 sides. You can read the articles titled “Is Turkey in Europe” and “Is Turkey in the Middle East” about Turkey’s geographical information.
Turkey is a large and developed country. A large part of Turkey’s population believes in Islam. Turkey is a Muslim country. We recommend you to read the article titled “Which Religion is Turkey” on this subject. However, the principle of ‘secularism’ has been accepted in the Turkish Constitution. Religion and state affairs are separated in Turkey. Religious rules are not accepted as basis in laws. A large part of Turkey’s population is Muslim. But Turkey also has a secular lifestyle. Considering the preferred vote rates in the elections, it can be said that 35% of Turkey has a secular lifestyle. It can be said that 65% of Turkey’s population is conservative.
It is known that Ak Party, which is in power in Turkey, is a conservative party. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ‘I am a conservative democrat’. It is known that a small number of Christians and Jews live in Turkey. In addition, many people from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries immigrated to Turkey. You can read the article titled ”What is Turkey’s Population Today” on this subject.
Alcohol consumption in Turkey is not welcomed by conservative masses, who are close to Islam. However, it is known that people with a secular lifestyle consume alcohol in Turkey.
In cities where these people live in the majority, the number of places with alcohol is quite high. There is alcohol addiction in Turkey. You can review the article titled “Is Alcohol Prohibited in Turkey” on this subject.
In the religion of Islam, people worship in ‘mosques’. There are many mosques in Turkey. Many mosques as historical monuments are known by the whole world. The most famous of these is the Hagia Sophia Mosque. This place, which was a church during the Byzantine Empire, was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman emperor Fatih conquered Istanbul. Hagia Sophia, which was converted from a mosque to a museum during the reign of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was finally used as a mosque again on July 24, 2020. There are also many mosques belonging to the famous Ottoman artist Mimar Sinan.
Churches and synagogues are allowed to be opened in Turkey. Many churches and synagogues are still open in Turkey. It is possible to worship freely in these churches and synagogues. Freedom of religion and conscience is guaranteed in Turkey.