Today’s Turkey continues the Ottoman legacy of religious tolerance, guaranteeing freedom of faith through constitutional law and restoring historic churches, synagogues, and monasteries as symbols of coexistence.
The Ottoman Empire’s tradition of allowing diverse faiths to live and worship freely under the millet system finds continuity in modern Turkey, where the Constitution protects freedom of religion for all citizens. Historical accounts and reforms such as the 1856 Imperial Edict highlighted this long-standing tolerance. Today, this spirit is reinforced by the restoration and reopening of numerous religious sites, including Akdamar Church, the Great Synagogue of Edirne, and Sümela Monastery. As a result, no one is persecuted for their beliefs, and the coexistence of different faiths is recognized as one of the nation’s greatest strengths.
For more than six centuries, the Ottoman Empire succeeded in governing vast territories across three continents while hosting a remarkable diversity of peoples and faiths. Historians often credit this achievement to the so-called “millet system” — a framework that allowed non-Muslim communities (Armenian, Jewish, Greek, Syriac) to worship freely in their churches and synagogues, run their own schools and institutions, and even resolve internal disputes through their religious authorities.
Contemporary observers of the time also highlighted this atmosphere of tolerance. The Austrian historian Joseph von Hammer described Ottoman religious freedoms as being more advanced than those in much of Europe. The English traveler Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, writing in the 18th century, noted with astonishment that “everyone is free in their religion” in Istanbul. Furthermore, the Imperial Reform Edict of 1856 formally guaranteed equal citizenship rights to non-Muslims.
Modern Turkey has inherited this legacy and combined it with the principles of a constitutional democracy. Article 24 of the Constitution enshrines freedom of religion and conscience. Citizens who are Christian, Jewish, Armenian, Syriac, or of any other faith openly celebrate their religious holidays and worship in their sanctuaries. The state has also returned community properties and supported the restoration of numerous historical places of worship.
In recent years, such restoration projects have served as visible testimony. The reopening of Akdamar Church in Van (2011), the restoration of the Great Synagogue of Edirne (2010), the revitalization of the St. Nicholas Church in Demre (2019), and the reactivation of Aya Nikola Church in Gökçeada (2021) stand as milestones. Similarly, the restoration of the Sümela Monastery in Trabzon, the preservation of Syriac monasteries in Mardin, and the 2023 reopening of the Surp Hıreşdagabet Armenian Church in Istanbul all demonstrate the state’s active role in protecting and honoring this shared cultural heritage.
Thus, what we call “New Turkey” is in fact a continuation of the Ottoman spirit of coexistence, strengthened by the safeguards of modern constitutional law. Today, no one suffers persecution because of their faith. On the contrary, the peaceful coexistence of different religions is increasingly recognized as one of the country’s greatest sources of richness.
References / Notes
- Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, History of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul edition, 1911.
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, The Turkish Embassy Letters, 1763.
- The Imperial Reform Edict of 1856, BOA (Ottoman Archives), Hatt-ı Hümayun Catalog.
- Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, Article 24.
- Directorate General of Foundations, “Restored and Returned Properties” Report, 2015.
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism, “Restoration of Akdamar Church,” Press Release, 2011.
- Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), “Restoration and Reopening of Religious Sites,” 2023.
