In a significant legal victory, a Turkish citizen has successfully had his religion changed from Islam to Tengrism in official records, setting a remarkable precedent. The ruling comes after a lengthy legal battle with Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), and has sparked discussions around the recognition of ancient religions in modern Turkish society. This case marks the first time Tengrism has been officially recognised as a religion on a state-issued identity card. The man behind this historic case, Burhanettin Mumcuoğlu, is a lawyer who first approached the authorities with a request to have his religion changed. The Interior Ministry, uncertain of how to handle this unusual request, sought Diyanet’s opinion on whether Tengrism qualified as a religion. Diyanet responded by stating that Tengrism “does not refer to a religion,” effectively denying Mumcuoğlu’s request. Unwilling to accept this decision, Mumcuoğlu pursued the matter through the judicial system, filing an appeal that would eventually prove successful. The court ruled in his favour, allowing him to register as a follower of the Tengri religion on his national identity card. This ruling not only enables Mumcuoğlu to freely express his religious beliefs, but it also paves the way for others who may wish … Continue reading Turkish Citizen Wins Landmark Case to Register Tengrism in Official Records