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HARMONY OF MIXED RELIGIONS IN TURKEY

Turkey is probably the only country on the planet where followers of mixed religions can live in harmony regardless of their origins and backgrounds. This is not with the new era but it has always been like this over the centuries.

Since historians can study the archives of the Ottomans, there are many examples proving that Turks always opened their doors to those who were fleeing the massacres and racist religious discriminations of the western medi-evil period such as Jews from Spain during the 16'th century.

Minorities have always been treated well and given the choice of choosing their own settlement places, nowadays we can see that many expensive plots in Istanbul for example do belong to the Jews which whom inherited these from their ancesters who seeked refuge to the Turks in the early 16'th century

In todays Turkey, Christians and Jews are practising their religions freely in their own worship places as any Muslim can. This, when compared to so called western world is way more democratic and humatarian, e.g in france whilst christians can practise their religions freely, on the other hand muslims are granted with obstacles.

Whilst muslims have great difficulties with getting permissions to build their mosques anywhere in europe, Jews and Christians are not facing any similar problems in Turkey.

Whilst a Tourist can have the courage to complain about the pray call coming from the minarettes, a muslim in the western world can not even dream of doing the same regarding church bells.

Turkey is overwhelmingly a Sunni Muslim country. As it has been explained above, there are other religious groups and sects including Aleviten, Ortodox and Catholic Christians and Jews. They are Turkish Citizens and have the exact rights by law as any other sunni muslim turk would have. The difference is, they simply believe differently, that is all.

It would be a clever thing to do, to find out about the Ramadan Times before travelling in to a Muslim Country. Ramadan starts every year more or less ten days earlier due to the Moon Calendar.

Especially in areas where tourism is less developed and not the major income, people can be a bit sensitive as they would expect from you not to eat and drink in public places. Although in Touristic places such as Marmaris, Sarigerme and Antalya even if the people dont mind it would be good to know and show the necessary respect.

Not knowing the basic things of Islam is an absolute no excuse if you are going to travel around in a muslim country. Especially with the easy access to the knowledge via internet, books and media. Being Ignorant in this matter may result in an unpleasant outcome.

Please refer to an islamic site if you do have any query regards to Islam

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