Ignorance breeds prejudice in Turkey, study shows

A lack of knowledge and prejudices rather than fact are the main influences of Turks' perceptions of minorities in Turkey, according to a survey carried out earlier this year.

The Frekans Research Field and Data Processing Co. conducted the survey as part of a project to promote the Turkish Jewish community and culture with the sponsorship of the European Commission and the Beyoğlu Rabbi’s Office Foundation. A total of 1,108 people around the country were questioned between May 18 and June 18.

When asked if minorities were attached to the Republic of Turkey, 54 percent said Alevis were attached and 38 percent said Kurds were. When it came to non-Muslim minorities, the figure decreased sharply to 16 percent for Greeks and 15 percent for Armenians and Jews.

When asked where they believed members of non-Muslim minority communities should not work, 57 percent said in the intelligence agency; 55 percent in the judiciary, the police department and the military; 51 percent in senior political posts; 46 percent as mayors; 44 percent in science institutions; and 44 percent in medical institutions.

But 51 percent of respondents said they would not be bothered if non-Muslims occupied mayoral posts, while 53 percent supported their employment in scientific institutions and 54 percent in medical institutions.

When asked who they would not like as a next-door neighbor, 57 percent said an atheist family, followed by a Jewish family at 42 percent, a Christian family at 35 percent and 18 percent for a family from overseas. Thirteen percent said they would not like to live next door to an Alevi family.

When it came to marking trustworthiness, Muslims scored 7.5 out of 10, according to the participants’ responses. Christians scored 3.9 and Jews scored 3.8.

On the issue of work ethic, Muslims scored 6.7, while Jews scored 6.8 and Christians 6.4.

Sixty-eight percent said non-Muslim communities contributed to Turkish business, 64 percent to culture and sports, 59 percent to science and education, and 42 percent to politics.

Responses based on lack of knowledge

The participants’ perceptions were largely based on nothing but prejudice because most had no contact with members of these minorities in their lives, according to the study.

While 70 percent said they were in regular contact with Kurds and 57 percent with Alevis, only 13 percent had Armenian colleagues or schoolmates. Eleven percent had Greek and 10 percent had Jewish colleagues at work or school.

Among their close friends, 64 percent had Kurds, 53 percent Alevis, 14 percent atheists, 10 percent Christians, 8 percent Greeks and 7 percent Jews.

When asked if they knew anything about the identities, lives and cultures of the minority communities in Turkey, 76 percent admitted they had no knowledge of Jews.

Seventy-four percent said they didn’t know about the culture of the Greek and Armenian communities living in their midst. Forty percent said they knew nothing about Alevis and 30 percent said the same about Kurds.

Citizens of Turkey

The participants were also asked how they identified themselves. Fifty-one percent said they were citizens of Turkey, while 19 percent said they were Turks. Another 19 percent identified themselves as Muslims, while 2 percent said they were Kurds and another 2 percent said they were Alevis.