New Turkish smart IDs include hidden 'religion' tags

As the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government started to distribute new smart identity cards for Turkish citizens, the first appeal of objection was filed by Ali Rıza Aydın, Chairperson of the Association of Left Stance in Law and former reporter of the Constitutional Court of Turkey, against the 'hidden religion tag'
Friday, 24 March 2017 08:18

As the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government started to distribute new smart identity cards for Turkish citizens, the first appeal of objection was filed to the Turkish Interior Ministry.

Chairperson of the Association of Left Stance in Law and former reporter of the Constitutional Court of Turkey, Ali Rıza Aydın appealed to the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate of Civil Registry and Citizenship, demanding that the religious affiliation tag on his identity card be removed from the chip of the card, which can be checked by authorities, since it violates the principle of secularism.

OBJECTION TO THE INTERIOR MINISTRY   

Ali Rıza Aydın’s attorney Başak Aydın Tantürkü’s petition of objection read: “Officers from the Çankaya (Ankara) Civil Registry Directorate have stated that the section of religious affiliation of my client is left blank on the former identity card whereas the section is hidden on the chip of this new identity card, which cannot be seen directly. However, while the section in question cannot be seen by the card holder or third parties, it can be monitored by second parties that are the officers who are not even defined in legal terms.”

Referring to the related articles of the Constitution on individual freedoms, the petition continued: “Article 24 of the Constitution, ‘No one shall be compelled to reveal religious beliefs and convictions’, is not conditioned by any exception or limitation. Leaving the section of religious affiliation blank on the identity card or hiding it on the chip would reveal religious belief or unbelief, which is unlawful according to the related article.”      

‘THE STATE CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CITIZENS’

Indicating to the violation of individual liberties, the petition stated: “Identity card is a legal document that shows citizenship, but compelling individuals to reveal their religious beliefs or thoughts would violate freedom and lead to discrimination. Itself of the section of religious affiliation on the identity card leads to the manifestation of individuals’ religious status against their will. Even though this section is left blank, it would still be a distinctive revelation since it could be seen by public authorities.”

The petition demanded a full removal of the section of religious affiliation from the identity card: “The violation would be still in effect even if the section of religious affiliation is hidden on the ID chip since it could be seen by public officials. The State cannot discriminate against citizens. In the light of above-mentioned reasons, the section of religious affiliation that is hidden on the chip of the identity card prepared and delivered by the Çankaya Civil Registry Directorate should be removed completely, and thus readjusted and delivered our party after the elimination of unlawfulness.”

‘RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION TAGS MUST BE REMOVED FROM IDs’

Talking to soL News about the related issue, Ali Rıza Aydın said: “We advocate that the tag of religious affiliation should be removed completely from the identity cards in accordance with the Constitution’s principle of secularism. The European Court of Human Rights also concluded a resolution in this direction. However, Turkey first entitled citizens with the right of a blank tag of religious affiliation and now hides the tag in the chips of new identity cards. We applied to the Ministry since the principle of secularism is not fulfilled. If the Ministry does not meet our demand, we will then apply to judicial procedures.”

Aydın concluded his statement: “It would be a dream to expect the Ministry to fulfill our demand in today’s Turkey. I do not suppose that the Ministry will give a positive respond. Therefore, we will also resort to the administrative court, using entire ways of judicial procedures and domestic law.”