Ramadan both Alla Turca and Alla Franga

For those who frequently attend the invitations at the Palais de France, the residence of the French consul general in Istanbul, Bekir bey and his staff are familiar figures. Their attention makes our stay more comfortable each time.

Entering the magnificent building last Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised to see that we would be sharing the same table as Bekir Emik and his aides. Having served at least 10 consul generals over the past three decades, Bekir bey was the guest of Muriel Domenach this time, sharing the same table with Beyoğlu Mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Özlem Zengin, the head of the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Istanbul women branch, historian İlber Ortaylı, and painter Bedri Baykam, who is known to be a staunch secularist.

No wonder Domenach mentioned equality, as well as liberty and fraternity - the national motto of France - in her opening speech.

However, it was her messages about secularism that most suited the spirit of the dinner, which was attended by nearly 250 guests who later went on to enjoy the jazz concert in the gardens.

It is widely accepted that Turkey “imported” secularism as a concept from France. “French laicism is sometimes understood wrongly here,” said Domenach.

“This is an open laicism. It does not deny religion; it designs the independence and separation between the spiritual and the worldly. It regulates the independence of the public space to enable believers from different religions, and non-believers, to live together,” she said, addressing a crowd that included women with headscarves and women with miniskirts; men who were waiting to break their fast as well as those waiting for their regular...