This paper critically examines methods and language of claims by non-Muslims and Alevi groups in a predominantly Muslim Turkey with a secular state tradition. Transition from a multi-ethnic and multi-religious Ottoman Empire to secular republic required wide range of reforms in Turkey to disconnect the state and society from the political, institutional and social legacy of Ottoman Empire. Structural reforms enabled Turkey to become a laic/secular state at the institutional and judicial levels but societal secularization remained limited. To put it differently the new Turkish society did not go through a secularization process like that of the West. Although the state was secular, policies seem to have favoured the Sunni interpretation of Islam through the establishment of powerful Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs). Despite equal rights established by the Constitution on the bases of citizenship, religious minorities, i.e. non-Muslims and Alevis had to work harder to voice their concerns. When the secular language proved to be ineffective, these groups adopted a new method and style to present their cases before the public. They added at least a religious flavour to their arguments, which might be interpreted as instrumentalization of religion for their secular purposes (citizenship rights). These cases require us to look at the Turkish case closer because although the state is secular, claims by several groups are made by reference to religion. One explanation for this is the fact that Turkey has not yet become to post-secular society in contrast to the West where secularization process naturally based on large-scale social transformation. This paper will present an overview of minority groups’ method and language of making claims on the one hand and state responses to its citizens on the other by focusing on Alevis and non-Muslims.
