Surveys get personal in Turkey
For the first time in Turkish history, state institutions are conducting surveys on religion, further dividing citizens.
A heated debate over the Turkish state’s excessive curiosity regarding people’s private issues began when news anchor Defne Samyeli’s complaint made news headlines: “Why is the state asking me how much I paid for my sanitary pads!” she exclaimed on Oct. 21, after an officer from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) visited her house.
“They gave us a book and told us we’re obliged under law to fill it in for a full month, detailing all the income and expenditures of the house. I told them I don’t have the time, but we first wanted to cooperate with them. My mom started to fill out the book, but she later told me she won’t be able to continue doing so as there are too many detailed questions,” she said. “I was frankly very surprised after taking a close look into the book, because it even inquired about what we serve to our guests. ... This survey is conducted to tag people. What I don’t understand is, why is the state asking me how much I paid for my sanitary pads!”
