Conflicts of Religious Education in a Secular State: a Study on Turkey’s Imam-Hatip School

Abstract

Although the secularization process has been carried out tremendously in modern Turkey since the establishment of the republic, the role of religion (i.e. Islam) was not fully denied. This became more apparent especially in the area of education. In this regard, the Kemalist regime has established the Imam-Hatip School since the formation of modern Turkey. However, throughout its development, the schools have experienced various challenges and sanctions. Hence, this paper aims to discuss the conflicts faced by the Imam-Hatip School as a religious educational institution in Turkey and attempts that have been made to overcome the conflicts. Thispaper relies on the textual study by analyzing related documents, reports, and other previous studies. In general, the conflicts that struck the Imam-Hatip School were due to a narrative where its existence was contrary to the principle of secularism. As a result, the schools were undermined by authorities where graduates from the schools were marginalized from pursuing their study in universities, and the schools were closed as an effect from the structuration of the schooling system. The conflicts have led some attempts to revive the status of the school as a religious educational institution. Although the attempts have led to positive implications, they also contributed to the polarization among people.