Kemal Erkan, Member of the Board of Trustees and U.S. Representative of the Marmara Group Foundation, attended the 32nd International Law and Religion Symposium held at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah.

 

Representing the Foundation, Mr. Erkan delivered a speech on behalf of Dr. Akkan Suver, President of the Marmara Group Foundation.

 

Originally planned to last 12 minutes, the speech extended to an hour due to the audience’s great interest in Turkey and their numerous questions regarding the latest developments on religious freedoms in the country.

 

In his remarks, Mr. Erkan emphasized that secular governance, freedom of conscience, and respect for diversity are the cornerstones of peaceful coexistence.

 

He stated that secularism, based on justice and equality, protects all faiths and strengthens democracy.

 

Below is the full text of Kemal Erkan’s speech:

 

It is a privilege to be with you today. On behalf of the Marmara Group Foundation in Türkiye, I extend to you our warmest greetings as a civil society organization committed to dialogue and cooperation.

Our President, Dr. Akkan Suver, was scheduled to address you at this session. Unfortunately, he could not attend, and with your kind permission, I will share his remarks in his stead.

Human beings are unique in that we seek meaning in the divine and in values greater than ourselves. The way of life shaped by this search is what we call religion.

Religion, however, can only flourish when there is freedom—freedom of thought, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship. And it is secularism that makes this freedom possible.

Secularism is not the enemy of religion; it is its safeguard. It ensures that people of all faiths, and of none, can live together in equality, peace, and dignity. A democracy cannot function without this principle. When a state elevates only one religion or one sect above others, the harmony of society is threatened. By contrast, when the state remains impartial, it protects human rights, culture, art, science, and social life. In its broadest sense, secularism is freedom of the mind.

History shows us that secularism has been understood in two different ways. One interpretation confines religion entirely to the private conscience and excludes it from the public sphere.

Another—more flexible and inclusive—recognizes that religion is not only an individual matter but also a social reality. This second understanding values religion as part of both personal and collective identity, and it allows for its presence in society without state interference.

In a secular political system shaped by this inclusive view, the state protects individual choices regarding religion and the lifestyles shaped by those choices, while refraining from imposing or restricting them. In this way, secularism becomes the true guarantee of freedom of religion and conscience.

Societies have always been diverse in faith and belief. This is a historical and sociological truth. Different religions, different interpretations, and even non-belief exist side by side. The role of a democratic and secular state is to ensure that this diversity can be lived in peace and freedom.

When secularism embraces diversity, people of different and even conflicting views can still live together. They can each express themselves fully without undermining the unity of the state. But if diversity is seen as a threat, societies risk falling into a rigid and monolithic mindset that is incompatible with democracy itself.

Therefore, in a truly secular environment, religion becomes a matter of conscience, and every individual is free to follow their own conscience.

In conclusion, let me emphasize one final point. A nation cannot endure without moral values.

In light of these truths, I pray that God will never deprive us of the chance to live with morality, with decency, and with modesty.

I respectfully greet this distinguished assembly.

Conference Coordinators: Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Clark and Kemal Erkan