KARACHI: The ideology of the Turkish state has been assertive secularism in which the state did not allow any kind of public visibility of religion. However, the Turkish people responded to this almost fierce secularism in multiple ways and now the dominant trend in Turkey is that of passive secularism. Hence, this form can now be seen shaping public policies and one can observe public displays of religion in Turkey.

These views were expressed by Salim Cevik, a political science professor at Ipek University, Ankara, on Thursday at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA). An expert on nationalism and ethnic conflict, Mr Cevik compared the secular states of Turkey, France and the United States and their policies towards religion. Quoting extensively from another political science professor’s seminal work Secularism and State Policies towards Religion by Ahmet Kuru, Mr Cevik said that France, too, was an example of assertive secularism; on the other hand, US policies allowed public visibility of religion.

“I have lived in different countries and observed various practices of secularism. In France, people there can be nasty going to the extent of calling you out publicly if you are looking different, whereas in the UK they embrace diversity to such an extent that in a school they will put up welcome sign in several languages on the first day of school,” said Hakan Gok, another Turkish academic, who spoke at the PIIA.

Responding to a question about the opposition’s role in Turkish politics and the domination of Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), Mr Cevik was highly critical of the opposition. “The opposition in Turkey is extremely weak. After ruling for more than a decade Erdogan has no opposition to criticise him. In fact, it has become a curse for him since democracy is only valid when you have a functional opposition. In the upcoming local elections in March and presidential and legislative elections in August the opposition has no hope of winning them.”

The assistant professor at the Rumi Institute of Peace, Mr Gok likened Erdogan’s tenure to uncontrolled driving on a stretch of motorway with no speed cameras to check on Erdogan. “There is no shadow cabinet, no freedom of the media. Everyone is locked up in jails and even the army, which is not exactly my favourite institution but it did act as a form of speed camera, is also not there to control Erdogan,” he said. He added that Erdogan’s anti-democratic behaviour was even worrying the business community.

Mr Cevik said that weak opposition in Turkey had a historical basis. “The main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party used to be allies of the military and the judiciary. Even though the party did not come to power because the military was the real boss and had influence over the government, the party wielded indirect power.” Hence, the opposition had not developed the way it should have also because of Erdogan’s largely successful economic policies. “One must remember that when Erdogan came to power Turkey was facing a huge financial crisis even though his party was only three months old.”

However, the Ankara-based political science professor said that Erdogan’s long-term tenure and his authoritarian tendencies had lately led him to make economic mistakes. He said it was likely that a rift within the ruling AKP develop or President Abdullah Gul intervene to restrain Erdogan.

Dr Masuma Hasan, the chairperson of the PIIA, said: “Kamal Ataturk was the saviour of Turkey. If there was no Ataturk then there would have been no Turkey. In fact, after the world wars, Turkey would have been divided by the Allied powers but this did not happen because of Ataturk. However his role, like any other leader, needs to re-evaluated.”