Turkey PM says draft constitution will guarantee secularism

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday pledged that Turkey's draft constitution would guarantee secularism after calls for a religious charter sparked controversy in the predominantly Muslim country. "Secularism will feature in the new constitution we draft as a principle that guarantees citizens' freedom of religion and faith and that ensures the state is at an equal distance from all faith groups," Davutoglu said in a televised speech. Parliament speaker Ismail Kahraman on Monday said the country "must have a religious constitution", triggering fears that that the AKP government was seeking to Islamise the traditionally secular country.

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