The US State Department's 2004 International Religious Freedom Report indicates that religious freedom in Turkey, supposedly guaranteed by the constitution, particularly encounters setbacks in universities and the public sector.
Among specific examples that the report points out are Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's failure to invite Parliament members and ministers' wives who wear headscarves to a Republican Day reception in October of 2003, and the fact that a judge turned a woman way from court for wearing a headscarf.
The report concedes that some progress has been made to allow for more religious freedom; however, there are still instances where members of the Muslim, Christian, and Bahai faiths have been detained for gathering without permission.
While the report mentions that the wearing of religious clothes in administrative associations, universities, schools and some work places is prohibited, "in general, the tolerance among religions principally contributes to the freedom of faith."
The report cites that the army, judicial system, and staunch secularists in official positions continue to oppose Islamic fundamentalism and will defend the secular administration structure at all costs.
As an example of Turkey's progress in the area, the term "prayer house" was decided upon instead of "mosque" for use in the law governing religious freedom; hence, the legal barrier to building "prayer houses" for other religions was theoretically removed in June of 2003.
The report also draws attention to the fact that the American Embassy invited the Turkish government to reopen the Greek Orthodox Seminary on Istanbul's Heybeliada Island.
US President George W. Bush reminded Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer of the importance of maintaining the custom of religious freedom during their meeting in June 2004.