The Symbolic Boundaries of Islamic Identities in the Context of Turkish Internal Migration

Hasan Ali Yilmaz

 

Abstract: This article examines how Turkish internal migrants form religious identities, focusing on the symbolic boundaries they employ to construct these identities. Based on interviews and participant observation, it addresses three core questions: (1) How do migrants from diverse Islamic backgrounds draw symbolic boundaries? (2) How are these boundaries reshaped by migration, political dynamics, and local settings? (3) In what ways do personal and collective memory inform identity construction? The research in this article indicates that identity formation is a dynamic process, continually influenced by societal, cultural, and political factors. Moral and geographical discourses establish boundaries, negotiating relationships within and outside groups. The article recognises migration as a critical factor shaping transformations in religious identity. Although situated in the Turkish context, it is hoped its findings will contribute to broader discussions.