The Secularism Assembly announces the 'Declaration of Secularism for an equal, free country'

The Secularism Assembly, established on September 25, 2023, announced its "Declaration of Secularism" at a press conference held yesterday (October 8, 2023) at the İ.T.Ü House in Ankara.

Secularism Assembly spokespersons Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu, Umut Kuruç, and Berkay Çelen shared the goals and struggle topics of the Secularism Assembly during the press conference, and the "Declaration of Secularism for an equal, free country" was shared with the public.

In the declaration read by Umut Kuruç, it was stated, "The Secularism Assembly did not set out as a petition campaign. It relies on the historical legitimacy of the Republic in its 100th year. We aim for it to continue its path as a structure that undertakes an enlightening task and fights against reactionism," and the articles of the Declaration of Secularism were read.

The prominent struggle topics from the declaration are as follows:

"DECLARATION OF SECULARISM FOR AN EQUAL, FREE COUNTRY"

"For more than twenty years, our country has been facing a significant phase of a total reactionary siege. Many achievements of the Republic have been destroyed in its 100th year. With the steps taken to change the administrative, legal, and social structure of our country, secularism, which is the guarantee of social life, is being trampled upon and its clear liquidation is even being targeted. Society is being restructured with religious rules, and our people are being surrounded by networks of sects and religious communities. Science is being replaced by superstitions, law by Sharia provisions, citizens by subjects, and the people by the ummah.

The political power, drawing strength from the composition of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), clearly reveals its intention to prepare a Constitution for the regime it has established with the term 'New Turkey'. It is known that the New Constitution also means the liquidation of secularism.

Against all these reactionary moves and increasing attacks, the struggle for secularism and enlightenment against reactionism has become very important. Organizing the resistance that exists in the lands of our country and in the founding values of the Republic is a historical responsibility. The protection and robustness of civilization and enlightenment will begin with the non-negotiable high value of secularism. For this reason, we gathered under the name 'Secularism Assembly'.

We have come together as citizens who see secularism as the fundamental element for the progress of society; who believe that human freedom can only be realized on a secular constitutional and legal ground, in a secular society, and that reactionism suppresses the working class and the poor the most.

The Secularism Assembly did not set out as a petition campaign. It relies on the historical legitimacy of the Republic in its 100th year. We aim for it to continue its path as a structure that undertakes an enlightening task and fights against reactionism.

Considering the attacks on secularism from different segments for a long time and the confusion this has created, the Secularism Assembly will form an intellectual barricade, but it will not remain in a position limited to a defensive line. At the same time, a line of struggle will be created that establishes social ties to pave the way for the struggle for secularism, creates a dynamic that stands on its own feet, and gives courage and hope to society.

Secularism is freedom. It cannot be reduced only to the separation of religion and state affairs. Its quality cannot be weakened or emptied with prefixes or suffixes. Secularism is the will of the laborers to understand and change the world and the order they live in; it is vital.

Conditions where the administrative structure, laws, and norms are not imprisoned in medieval molds; where the values of civilization, reason, science, and questioning are essential for today's and future generations; where social life is established on the basis of citizenship, not subjects; where citizenship means a struggle for rights; where the awareness that gender equality is an absolute and fundamental human right can be demonstrated with the will to change life forward; and where reason and will can be free, rise on the ground of secularism. For these reasons, our goal is to win secularism for the construction of a livable, equal, and free country. Winning secularism is winning the future, a step taken towards a march to an egalitarian society and a free life."