The number of Turks who describe themselves as atheists has risen over the past decade, while those who consider themselves religious have decreased, though they are still in the majority. One survey's findings have rekindled heated debates over political Islam and religiosity in a country that is officially secular but ruled by an Islamist-leaning party since 2002.

The survey, released last week by the KONDA company, is based on a comparison of opinion polls conducted in 2008 and 2018, and explores social changes in Turkey over the past decade. Canvassing nearly 5,800 people in 36 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, the 2018 poll found that 51% of respondents described themselves as “religious,” down from 55% in 2008. Those who described themselves as “strictly religious” accounted for 10%, down from 13% a decade ago.

Those who called themselves “atheists” increased to 3% from 1% in 2008, and those who identify as “non-believers” rose to 2% from 1%.

When the Justice and Development Party (AKP) ascended to power in November 2002, debates often included the question, “Will Turkey become Malaysia?” Some spoke of “Malaysianization” to describe what they believed could be in store for Turkey. Essentially, the question was whether a party of an Islamic character will inevitably embark on molding society according to its Islamic worldview after clinching power. How one answered the question determined one's side in Turkey’s political clashes in the ensuing years.