Turks in Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Turks in Switzerland are Swiss
citizens of Turkish
origin. Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in the diversity of culture, language and customs in the Swiss population. Significant levels of Muslim emigration to Switzerland began in the late 1960s with the arrival of labour migrants from Turkey
.
in the early 1960s as migrant workers. Jobs were available primarily in the industrial, catering and textile sectors. Unlike the situation in Germany
, Belgium
and France
, this migration occurred outside official agreements between the two countries and the majority of Turks came to Switzerland on their own initiative.
, are concentreated particularly in the cities of Zurich
, Basel
and Aarau
.
According to the Swiss Statistics, as of 2007 there were 73,000 Turkish nationals living in Switzerland, including Kurds. However, this does not include those who have been naturalised or the Swiss born Turks.
Naturalisation of Turkish citizens:>
Year Population
1997
1,814
1998
2,093
1999
2,260
2000
3,127
2001
3,116
2002
4,128
2003
4,216
2004
3,565
2005
3,467
2006
3,457
Source: OECD
The majority of the Turkish community in Switzerland adhere to Islam
. However, their religious organisations differ from those of other Muslim communities in the country. The Turks are divided by ideological and political divisions of their home country. When in the 1970s the Islamic movement Millî Görüş
was established in Germany for the German Turkish community, some of the Turks in Switzerland joined this organisation. But the activities of the Diyanet İşleri Türk İslam Birliği
, the Turkish directorate of religious affairs that sends Imams to the Turkish diaspora
, attracted other Turks to adhere to this state-controlled form of Islam. Turkish groups such as the Sufi Suleymancilar and the Nurcu confraternity also play a role in the Turkish Muslim community in Switzerland.
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Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
citizens of Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
origin. Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in the diversity of culture, language and customs in the Swiss population. Significant levels of Muslim emigration to Switzerland began in the late 1960s with the arrival of labour migrants from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
History
Historically, the first Turks arrived in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in the early 1960s as migrant workers. Jobs were available primarily in the industrial, catering and textile sectors. Unlike the situation in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, this migration occurred outside official agreements between the two countries and the majority of Turks came to Switzerland on their own initiative.
Demographics
Accounting some 5% of the foreign population, the Turkish community in Switzerland, of which around 80% of them live in the German-speaking cantonsCantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
, are concentreated particularly in the cities of Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and Aarau
Aarau
Aarau is the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The city is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aar, on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura...
.
According to the Swiss Statistics, as of 2007 there were 73,000 Turkish nationals living in Switzerland, including Kurds. However, this does not include those who have been naturalised or the Swiss born Turks.
| Year | Turkish citizens | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 77,100 | |||
| 2005 | 75,900 | |||
| 2006 | 74,300 | |||
| 2007 | 73,200 | |||
| (Source: Swiss Statistics)http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/01/01.html | ||||
Naturalisation
Religion
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. However, their religious organisations differ from those of other Muslim communities in the country. The Turks are divided by ideological and political divisions of their home country. When in the 1970s the Islamic movement Millî Görüş
Millî Görüs
Millî Görüş has been called one of "the leading Turkish diaspora organizations in Europe". Founded in 1969, the movement claimed to have "87,000 members across Europe, including 50,000 in Germany," as of 2005...
was established in Germany for the German Turkish community, some of the Turks in Switzerland joined this organisation. But the activities of the Diyanet İşleri Türk İslam Birliği
Diyanet Isleri Türk Islam Birligi
The Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs , is one of the largest Islamic organisations in Germany. It was founded in 1984 as a branch of the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Ankara. The headquarters are in Cologne-Ehrenfeld....
, the Turkish directorate of religious affairs that sends Imams to the Turkish diaspora
Turkish diaspora
The Turkish diaspora refers to "Turks" who have emigrated from their homeland. Thus, the term may refer to citizens of Turkey living abroad or ethnic Turks from traditional areas of Turkish settlement who are living abroad.Due to the...
, attracted other Turks to adhere to this state-controlled form of Islam. Turkish groups such as the Sufi Suleymancilar and the Nurcu confraternity also play a role in the Turkish Muslim community in Switzerland.
Language
National associations
The Turkish community has a strong tendency to form associations as a way of keeping customs and traditions alive. Cultural societies, sports clubs - particularly football teams - and religious organisations have sprung up in virtually all major Swiss towns.See also
- List of Swiss Turks
- Relations of Switzerland and Turkey
- Turks in EuropeTurks in EuropeThe Turks in Europe refers to Turkish people living in Europe. According to a 2011 academic estimate, there is approximately 9 million Turks living in Europe, excluding those who live in Turkey....