Turks Examine Their Muslim Devotion After Poll Says Faith Could Be Waning

Analysts say declining religious behavior in Turkey despite the government's attempts to promote it should not come as a surprise.

The government's "very active and costly efforts to promote religiosity" don't appear to be having much effect, Murat Somer, a professor of political science and international relations at Istanbul's Koc University, said in an email to NPR.

In general, he said, "government control and state provision of religion usually alienate people from religiosity."