You cannot have democracy without secularism, or secularism without democracy

Mehmet Y. Yilmaz: Hürriyet Gazetesi


A declaration from the military in Turkey is not a situation which should be counted as very ordinary in our nation! Our Constitution defines the groundwork for where the military can, if necessary, make its views clear in relation to problems the country may be having: the National Security Council (MGK). That's why it's there.

So, if there are developments occuring in Turkey which elicit warnings from the military, the place to do it is at the MGK, not in the public eye.

On the other hand, the 2nd article of the Turkish Constitution defines the Turkish Republic wjth characteristics like "democratic, secular, and a state of social justice."

And the 4th article then goes on to stress that these characteristics are "unchangeable and not open to proposals of change."

But it is not an acceptable stance that in defending one of the above characteristics, one of the others could be discounted. Just as the Turkish Republic's "secular" character is crucial, its "democratic" character is also just as important. And institutions who are charged with defending the order defined by our Constitution cannot prioritize these chacteristics according to whim.

Of course, the AKP's actions in relation to the presidential process cannot be ignored in so far as the damage they inflicted on the principle of secularity. But while saying "I will protect secularity," the path is not to push democracy to one side.

Those who really love Turkey will make it clear that they understand both sides of this matter, and that just as you cannot have democracy without secularism, you also cannot have secularism without democracy.