About: secularism

Turkey’s opposition leader looks to emerge from Erdogan’s shadow

A veteran Turkish politician who has struggled for years to have Erdoğan voted out of office says that his dream is drawing nearer, even as doubts remain whether he will be the main opposition candidate at the 2023 presidential elections.

EU companies can ban headscarves under certain conditions, court says

Companies in the European Union can ban employees from wearing a headscarf under certain conditions, if they need to do so to project an image of neutrality to customers, the EU's top court said on Thursday (15 July).

Turkey calls for France boycott as Islamic world backlash grows

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (26 October) joined calls for a boycott of French goods, ramping up a standoff between France and Muslim countries over Islam and freedom of speech.

What next for Kazakhstan after the elections?

The next President of Kazakhstan will have to oversee that there is no backsliding in economic, social and political reforms, and reassure international partners that the external policy of the country remains unchanged, writes Eli Hadzieva.

Pope and Macron hold ‘intense’ meeting at Vatican

French President Emmanuel Macron held an "intense" meeting with Pope Francis during his first official visit to the Vatican yesterday (26 June), discussing global issues including the fate of migrants coming to Europe.

EU must engage with Azerbaijan or Putin will

Azerbaijan’s strategic yet precarious geopolitical location and situation are such that the country deserves EU support, especially in light of growing tensions with Russia and Iran, writes Jan Zahradil MEP.

Commission met religious leaders on 100th anniversary of Bolshevik revolution

The European Commission’s regular meeting with religious leaders on Tuesday (7 November) coincided with the 100th anniversary of the October Bolshevik revolution, probably the single event that left the greatest mark on the 20th Century, and one of whose major crimes was the crackdown on religion.

EU envoy on religious freedom: ‘Indifference, ignorance and fear’ are terror’s greatest allies

To mark his first anniversary in the role as the EU’s inaugural Special Envoy for the Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the EU, EURACTIV.com interviewed Ján Figeľ about the headscarf ban, Islamist terrorism and growing up Catholic in a communist state.

Turkey’s ruling party withdraws ‘rape law’

Turkey's ruling party said today (22 November) it will withdraw a marriage bill that the United Nations warned could legitimise child rape.

Erdogan says coup was ‘gift from God’ to reshape country, punish enemies

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Friday’s failed coup (15 July) was a “gift from God”, giving him the chance to re-shape the country, and purge the country’s elite from enemies, who accuse him of creeping Islamisation in the traditionally secular state.

Turkey to seek ‘liberal interpretation’ of secularism in new constitution

Turkey's new constitution will retain secularism as a principle, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said yesterday (27 April), playing down comments from the parliamentary speaker who caused a public uproar by calling for a religious national charter.

Turks protest Islamisation push

Turkish police yesterday (26 April) fired tear gas to break up protests over a call for the country to adopt a religious constitution that has sparked concerns of creeping Islamisation in the traditionally secular state.

Pope will visit Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

Pope Francis will visit Azerbaijan and Georgia in the autumn, the Vatican said on 9 April, one day after combatants in Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to cease fighting that has killed dozens in the past week.

Azerbaijan was effective in countering radicalisation

While the threat of Islamic terrorism and radicalisation still exists to some extent in Azerbaijan, prevention measures have undoubtedly been very effective, writes Ceyhun Osmanli.