PM issues secular pledge on new constitution

Turkey’s PM Ahmet Davutoglu has said the country’s new constitution will feature the principle of secularism. He said Turkey’s secular and democratic character was “not up for debate”. His comments came a day after a key member of the ruling AK party (AKP) called for secularism to be taken out of the constitution. Parliamentary speaker […]

Turkey’s PM Ahmet Davutoglu has said the country’s new constitution will feature the principle of secularism.
He said Turkey’s secular and democratic character was “not up for debate”.
His comments came a day after a key member of the ruling AK party (AKP) called for secularism to be taken out of the constitution.
Parliamentary speaker Ismail Kahraman, who is overseeing the draft charter, said Turkey was a Muslim country and should have a religious constitution.
Turkey is a NATO member and aspires to join the EU, which has traditionally regarded the country as a model of secular democracy in the Islamic world.