Turkish People and Religion

Turkish People

Before 1923 the population of Turkey included large numbers of Greeks, Armenians, Jews and Venetians, and many of the most influential figures in business, trade and the arts were non-Turkish citizens. After the War of Independence in 1923 there was an exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece, and most Greeks were re-settled in Greece. Small communities of Greeks and Jews remain in Istanbul, but the only significant non-Turkish ethnic group in Turkey today are the Kurds. Kurdish is widely spoken in the east and Arabic is common in the south-east, but the official language is Turkish. English is taught as a second language in schools and German is fairly widespread as a great number of guest-workers are "'employed in Germany. In centres of tourism and main cities the touts and shop-sellers seem to speak any language that mav bring them business and most people have no difficulty in communicating.



In more rural areas it is rare to find anyone who speaks a foreign language and a few words of Turkish can get the visitor a long wav. People in the country are generally very friendly and it is not unusual to be offered drinks and refreshments. The Turkish people generally pride themselves on their hospitality but in same of the more developed tourist centres this attitude has started to wear thin and hospitality has taken on more mercenary motives.

Religion

Ninety-nine per cent of Turkey's population is Moslem, but Islam plays no part in the running of the country; Turkey is a secular state. The degree to which Islamic principles effect people's lives varies a great deal. However, even those who do not observe the religion very strictly would still claim to be Moslem, and the Koran sets a moral foundation which is the basis of the Turkish sense of honesty, kindness and generosity.

The Islamic wav of life is most closely adhered to in the rural parts of the country and amongst elderly people. Men and women live segregated lives outside of the family, prayer is an integral part of daily life and the fast is strictly observed with restaurants, and shops selling alcoholic drinks, shut for the duration of Ramazan. The cities are more lax in their attitude and people follow their own lifestyle. The mosques are attended by less people and alcohol is widely available. Women have freedom outside the home and many have professional careers, wear fashionable clothes and mix in society with men.

Islam is a tolerant religion and it is generally accepted that foreigners need not follow the Islamic codes of behaviour, although visitors should be careful not to give offence when visiting mosques or other religious places by wearing unsuitable clothing. The normal dress-code for Moslem women is a head-scarf, a long skirt or the traditional salvar baggy pants, and a shirt with sleeves; men usually wear trousers and jackets.