Editorial

Dear readers,

We are delighted to present the 165th issue of Köprü Journal, featuring “Democratic Republic” as our cover topic. Alongside the participation in the 16th Risale-i Nur Congress, we decided to continue exploring the theme of “republic” in this issue due to the enthusiasm for transforming presented papers into articles for publication in our journal.

In this issue titled “Democratic Republic,” the majority of the articles emphasize the necessity of instilling the spirit of democracy into the republic. The first article discusses the tensions that constantly arise between “guardianship” and “majoritarianism” due to the rejection of a truly democratic model that balances majority rule with minority rights, and the problems these tensions cause. Articles attempt to establish the fact that “liberationist” political missions, aiming to transcend ordinary politics, eventually leave no room for legitimate political opposition and hinder the development of a robust democratic culture. Another article suggests that while establishing the legal infrastructure of the republic regime, people should thoroughly read, study, and research the book of the universe, resulting in the formation of a common governance system. It asserts that humans, as parts of the universe, should never oppose the natural laws of the universe, a perspective discussed through the lens of the republic regime.

Another article mentions that the path to the republic passes through the struggle for liberty, claiming that humanity can establish a free environment under the “common denominator of human essence,” which in turn could ensure world peace. It posits that Islam, being the true great humanity, could be affirmed worldwide. Another piece discusses how Said Nursi taught the tribes of the East about democracy through debates and question and answer sessions, supporting the idea that in democracies, ‘reason’ is not confined to the opinions of one individual but is upheld by the laws.

An evaluation of Namık Kemal and Said Nursi’s views on secularism suggests that secularism is a concept incompatible with the practices of Islamic law. Namık Kemal is known for his opposition to the secularization of morals and traditions. The article discusses how the political system adopts secularism as a regime principle, leading to interference in civil Islamic activities. This process includes Said Nursi’s statements that the political authority has no right to interfere in Islamic activities based on the freedom of conscience included in secularism. Another article argues that the democratic republic is the form of government most compatible with human nature and thus, also aligns with the spirit of Islam, grounding this argument on the Quran and Sunnah. From this perspective, the article examines the lives and ideas of the Umayyad Caliph Umar Bin Abdulaziz and Said Nursi as examples.

We wish you insightful readings and look forward to meeting you in our 166th issue with the theme of “Family.”