The relationship between the state and the religion is
different based on the fact that how powerful is the religion faith in a
state and of the influences that affected the views of the constitution
drafters according to the constitutional system they were based to
draft their constitution. This paper aims at providing, through a
comparative methodology, how it is regulated by the constitution the
relationship between the state and the religion. The object of this
study are the constitutions of Italy as a nation with catholic religious
tradition, Greece as a nation with orthodox religion tradition, and
Turkey as a nation which represents Muslim religion, while Albania
as a nation known for its religious plurality. In particular, the analysis
will be focused on the secular or religious principle provided in the
constitution of each respective state. This comparative overview
intends to discern which of the states analyzed is more tolerant and
fully respects the freedom of religion. It results that most of the states
subject of this study, despite their religious tradition have chosen the
secular principle in their constitutions, but the religious freedom is
differently guaranteed.
[1] A.D. Hertzke, “The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Changes”,
Oxford University Press, New York, 2013C. L. Eisgruber and
L.G.Sager, “Religious freedom and the constitution”, Harvard
University Press, USA, 2009, pp.37.
[2] World Fact-Book: Italy. Available at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/it.html
Accessed on 21 February 2015.
[3] World Fact-Book: Greece. Available at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-actbook/geos/gr.html
Retrieved 21 February 2015.
[4] World Fact-Book: Turkey. Available at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-actbook/geos/tu.html
Accessed on 21 February 2015.
[5] World Fact-Book: Albania. Available at
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-actbook/geos/al.html
Accessed on 22 February 2015.
[6] C. Waldman and C. Mason, “Encyclopedia of European Peoples”, Facts
on File, Inc., New York, 2006, pp. 415.
[7] M. Lee. Knowlton, “Cultures of the World- Albania”, Marshall
Cavendish, NY, 2005, pp.86.
[8] D. B. Daughrity, “The Changing World of Christianity: The Global
History of a Borderless Religion”, Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New
York, 2010, pp.58.
[9] K. Greenawalt, “Religion and the Constitution, Volume 2: Establishment
and Fairness”, Princeton University Press, Oxfordshire, USA, 2008,
pp.557.
[10] J. Cesari, “The Awakening of Muslim Democracy: Religion, Modernity
and the State”, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014, pp.45.
[11] H. Yavuz, “Islamic Political Identity in Turkey”, Oxford University
Press, USA, 2003, pp.99.
[12] Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, “Turkey: Situation of
women who wear headscarves”, 20 May 2008, TUR102820.E, available
at http://www.refworld.org/docid/4885a91a8.html, accessed 20 January
2015.
[13] Decisions of the Italian Constitutional Court No. 203/1989,
No.259/1990, No.195/1993 and No.329/1997.
[14] P. C. Spyropoulos and Th. P. Fortsakis, “Constitutional Law in Greece”,
Kluwer Law International, The Netherlands, 2009, pp.264.
[15] P.C. Spyropoulos and Th. P. Fortsakis, “Constitutional Law in Greece”,
Kluwer Law International, The Netherlands, 2009, pp.266.
[16] F. Bellou, Th. A. Couloumbis and Th. Kariotiris, “Greece in the
Twentieth Century”, Routledge, UK, 2013, pp.228.
[17] F. Bellou, Th. A. Couloumbis and Th. Kariotiris, “Greece in the
Twentieth Century”, Routledge, UK, 2013, pp.225.
[18] A.D. Hertzke, “The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Changes”,
Oxford University Press, New York, 2013, pp. 204.
[19] L. Omari and A. Anastasi, “E drejta Kushtetuese (Constitutional Law)”,
ABC, Tirane, 2010, pp.137.
[20] M. Erdoğan and S. Yazıcı, “Toward Turkey’s New Constitution”,
Report of the TESEV Commission on Constitution, TESEV Publication,
2011, pp.19-20. Available at:
https://www.google.al/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1
&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.for
mermembers.eu%2FDocdownload.asp%3FID%3D28A49CDA5E04020
50EFA&ei=il0NVaCmNMPhaLC5gpgD&usg=AFQjCNGDpjVrKwih4
b5fa0f3eMWkhiqU4w&bvm=bv.88528373,d.d2s. Accessed on 02
March 2015.
[21] United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, “Annual
Report 2014: Turkey”, pp.146, available at:
http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Turkey%202014.pdf, accessed
on 02 March 2015.
[22] The Specific Decrees, available in Italian language at the official
webpage of the Italian Government:
http://www.governo.it/Presidenza/USRI/ufficio_studi/scuola.html
Accessed on 14 March 2015.
[23] Decree of the President of the Republic No. 121 & 122/2004 and
No.305/2004.
[24] S. Ferrari, “State and Church in Italy”, in State and Church in the
European Union, edited G. Robbers, Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2nd edition,
2005, pp.218-220.
[25] These reports for each country are available at
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/rpt/ Accessed 10 March 2015.
[26] A.D. Hertzke, “The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Changes”,
Oxford University Press, New York, 2013, pp. 208.
[27] Lautsi v. Italy No 30814/06, 3 November 2009.
[28] Lautsi and others v. Italy, No 30814/06, 18 March 2011.
[29] J. Cesari, “The Awakening of Muslim Democracy: Religion, Modernity
and the State”, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014, pp.46.
[30] United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, “Annual
Report 2014: Turkey”, pp.147. Available at:
http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Turkey%202014.pdf. Accessed
02 March 2015.
[31] Article of Hürriyet Daily News, “Turkish government allows headscarf
for fifth graders, causing uproar”, dated September 23, 2014, available at
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nID=720
62&NewsCatID=338. Accessed 4 March 2015.
[32] P.C. Spyropoulos and Th. P. Fortsakis, “Constitutional Law in Greece”,
Kluwer Law International, The Netherlands, 2009, pp.268.
[33] US Department of State, Greece 2013 International Religious Freedom
Report, available at
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/222433.pdf.Accessed on
12 March 2015.
[34] Th. Tsivolas and N. Doe, “Law and Religious Cultural Heritage in
Europe”, Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2014, pp.24.
[1] A.D. Hertzke, “The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Changes”,
Oxford University Press, New York, 2013C. L. Eisgruber and
L.G.Sager, “Religious freedom and the constitution”, Harvard
University Press, USA, 2009, pp.37.
[2] World Fact-Book: Italy. Available at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/it.html
Accessed on 21 February 2015.
[3] World Fact-Book: Greece. Available at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-actbook/geos/gr.html
Retrieved 21 February 2015.
[4] World Fact-Book: Turkey. Available at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-actbook/geos/tu.html
Accessed on 21 February 2015.
[5] World Fact-Book: Albania. Available at
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-actbook/geos/al.html
Accessed on 22 February 2015.
[6] C. Waldman and C. Mason, “Encyclopedia of European Peoples”, Facts
on File, Inc., New York, 2006, pp. 415.
[7] M. Lee. Knowlton, “Cultures of the World- Albania”, Marshall
Cavendish, NY, 2005, pp.86.
[8] D. B. Daughrity, “The Changing World of Christianity: The Global
History of a Borderless Religion”, Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New
York, 2010, pp.58.
[9] K. Greenawalt, “Religion and the Constitution, Volume 2: Establishment
and Fairness”, Princeton University Press, Oxfordshire, USA, 2008,
pp.557.
[10] J. Cesari, “The Awakening of Muslim Democracy: Religion, Modernity
and the State”, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014, pp.45.
[11] H. Yavuz, “Islamic Political Identity in Turkey”, Oxford University
Press, USA, 2003, pp.99.
[12] Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, “Turkey: Situation of
women who wear headscarves”, 20 May 2008, TUR102820.E, available
at http://www.refworld.org/docid/4885a91a8.html, accessed 20 January
2015.
[13] Decisions of the Italian Constitutional Court No. 203/1989,
No.259/1990, No.195/1993 and No.329/1997.
[14] P. C. Spyropoulos and Th. P. Fortsakis, “Constitutional Law in Greece”,
Kluwer Law International, The Netherlands, 2009, pp.264.
[15] P.C. Spyropoulos and Th. P. Fortsakis, “Constitutional Law in Greece”,
Kluwer Law International, The Netherlands, 2009, pp.266.
[16] F. Bellou, Th. A. Couloumbis and Th. Kariotiris, “Greece in the
Twentieth Century”, Routledge, UK, 2013, pp.228.
[17] F. Bellou, Th. A. Couloumbis and Th. Kariotiris, “Greece in the
Twentieth Century”, Routledge, UK, 2013, pp.225.
[18] A.D. Hertzke, “The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Changes”,
Oxford University Press, New York, 2013, pp. 204.
[19] L. Omari and A. Anastasi, “E drejta Kushtetuese (Constitutional Law)”,
ABC, Tirane, 2010, pp.137.
[20] M. Erdoğan and S. Yazıcı, “Toward Turkey’s New Constitution”,
Report of the TESEV Commission on Constitution, TESEV Publication,
2011, pp.19-20. Available at:
https://www.google.al/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1
&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.for
mermembers.eu%2FDocdownload.asp%3FID%3D28A49CDA5E04020
50EFA&ei=il0NVaCmNMPhaLC5gpgD&usg=AFQjCNGDpjVrKwih4
b5fa0f3eMWkhiqU4w&bvm=bv.88528373,d.d2s. Accessed on 02
March 2015.
[21] United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, “Annual
Report 2014: Turkey”, pp.146, available at:
http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Turkey%202014.pdf, accessed
on 02 March 2015.
[22] The Specific Decrees, available in Italian language at the official
webpage of the Italian Government:
http://www.governo.it/Presidenza/USRI/ufficio_studi/scuola.html
Accessed on 14 March 2015.
[23] Decree of the President of the Republic No. 121 & 122/2004 and
No.305/2004.
[24] S. Ferrari, “State and Church in Italy”, in State and Church in the
European Union, edited G. Robbers, Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2nd edition,
2005, pp.218-220.
[25] These reports for each country are available at
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/rpt/ Accessed 10 March 2015.
[26] A.D. Hertzke, “The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Changes”,
Oxford University Press, New York, 2013, pp. 208.
[27] Lautsi v. Italy No 30814/06, 3 November 2009.
[28] Lautsi and others v. Italy, No 30814/06, 18 March 2011.
[29] J. Cesari, “The Awakening of Muslim Democracy: Religion, Modernity
and the State”, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014, pp.46.
[30] United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, “Annual
Report 2014: Turkey”, pp.147. Available at:
http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Turkey%202014.pdf. Accessed
02 March 2015.
[31] Article of Hürriyet Daily News, “Turkish government allows headscarf
for fifth graders, causing uproar”, dated September 23, 2014, available at
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nID=720
62&NewsCatID=338. Accessed 4 March 2015.
[32] P.C. Spyropoulos and Th. P. Fortsakis, “Constitutional Law in Greece”,
Kluwer Law International, The Netherlands, 2009, pp.268.
[33] US Department of State, Greece 2013 International Religious Freedom
Report, available at
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/222433.pdf.Accessed on
12 March 2015.
[34] Th. Tsivolas and N. Doe, “Law and Religious Cultural Heritage in
Europe”, Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2014, pp.24.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:69989", author = "Valbona Metaj", title = "Religion and the Constitutional Regulation", abstract = "The relationship between the state and the religion is
different based on the fact that how powerful is the religion faith in a
state and of the influences that affected the views of the constitution
drafters according to the constitutional system they were based to
draft their constitution. This paper aims at providing, through a
comparative methodology, how it is regulated by the constitution the
relationship between the state and the religion. The object of this
study are the constitutions of Italy as a nation with catholic religious
tradition, Greece as a nation with orthodox religion tradition, and
Turkey as a nation which represents Muslim religion, while Albania
as a nation known for its religious plurality. In particular, the analysis
will be focused on the secular or religious principle provided in the
constitution of each respective state. This comparative overview
intends to discern which of the states analyzed is more tolerant and
fully respects the freedom of religion. It results that most of the states
subject of this study, despite their religious tradition have chosen the
secular principle in their constitutions, but the religious freedom is
differently guaranteed.", keywords = "Constitution, religion, religious freedom, secular.", volume = "9", number = "6", pages = "1832-6", }
