Shari'ah and the State:

Analysing Recent Legal and Political Changes in Turkiye

Sheikh Inam Ul Mansoor

 

Abstract: This note explores the intricate dynamics of Turkiye’s legal and political evolution, scrutinising the delicate interplay between Shari'ah and the state. Traversing historical landscapes, it unfolds from the Ottoman legacy rooted in Islamic law to the transformative secular reforms shaping the secular identity of the Turkish Republic. The rise of political Islam, notably under the Justice and Development Party (AKP), influences constitutional changes and judicial dynamics. Societal complexities, marked by urban-rural disparities, come to the fore through case studies examining contentious issues like the Hagia Sophia conversion and evolution in schools i.e. adapting the curriculum to reflect changes in the cultural and historical narrative. Uncertainties surrounding the balance between secularism and Islamic influences become paramount considerations, with implications extending globally. The paper contends that Turkiye’s choices at recent legal and political changes in Turkiye will not only determine its domestic trajectory but will reverberate across the broader canvas of international relations, positioning the nation at the forefront of the 21st century geopolitical discourse.