Return To Islam Faith Now Being Revived In Turkey

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 49, 4 February 1949, Page 8

Return To Islam Faith Now Being Revived In Turkey

A revival of religious feeling, dormant or repressed, since Turkey became a lay Republic, 25 years ago, is today slowly making itself felt in Turkey’s public life and forcing concessions from the Kemalist principle of the lay State. Three decisions by the Turkish Government point the way to what would appear to be a popular demand for “a return to the Mosque.” These decisions are the re-intro-duction this year of Islamic religious tuition in primary schools, which are run by the State and are attended by more than a million and a half children; the Government’s acceptance of plans to create special State schools in the principal towns for the formation of a lower clergy of imams (officiating clerics) and hatibs (preachers); and Government approval for the re-opening of an Islamic Theological School for the training of an upper clergy. For the first time since the Khaliphate was abolished in 1924, and religious teaching of any kind was forbidden in all schools, the parents of Turkey’s new generation will shortly be able to send their children to weekly or bi-weekly courses of religious instruction.

There, they will be taught the tenets of the Moslem faith and the basis of Islamic thought. In the Mosques throughout the country, the imams and hatibs will now be able to carry on and revive the Islamic tradition, officiating at prayers and imparting the teachings of the Koran.