ABSTRACT
The 2002 electoral victory of the AKP is regarded as the beginning of post-secular Turkey, implying the end of an authoritarian Turkish secularism. However, Turkey’s pragmatic secular contact forged with the formation of the republic always made a friendly version of Islam a partner to the state. After the introduction of multi party politics in 1946, heterodox forms of Islam flourished by utilizing new political opportunities. Hence, it is misleading to talk about a strict and static secularism in Turkey. The place of religion in the public sphere was always pragmatically arranged by the state, and this situation merely updated itself with the arrival of AKP rule. In this regard, there is continuity rather than rupture in the republic’s practice of secularism.