11/28/2018 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Ankara has released its first draft budget since Turkey transitioned to a new system of governance which increases the power of President Erdogan. Opposition forces say that the 2019 budget builds an authoritarian regime with a strong Islamist element, in contrast to the secularism which the constitution protects.

The Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) is at the core of the budget and stands to receive a significant increase of funds. The domestic and international activities of the Diyanet have come under heavy criticism in recent years. Their emphasis on Islamic religious training and mosque building comes as Turkey’s economy has plummeted.

The draft budget has led Christians and other non-Muslims to voice concerns about the implications of increasing the Diyanet’s spending. Some have voiced disappointment that their taxes are being used towards a budget that is only in the service of Islam. Others have expressed concern that that budget underscores how political Islam is essential to Erdogan’s authoritarianism.

Religious freedom in Turkey has significantly deteriorated since the 2016 military coup. Turkey is currently listed as a Tier 2 Country on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) annual report.

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