Briefly defined as “the worship of Satan as if he were God,” Satanism is the name given to a reaction that started in the 1880s in such countries as France, England, Germany, and more particularly in the USA, against Christianity, religious under­standing, and the domination that Christian scholars have exer­cised from the Middle Ages on. The movement began to be systematized in the 1950s by the American-born Anton Szan­dor LaVey. Today, Satanism represents a rebellion against all religions – mainly Christianity – and the sacred values that they put forward. Thus Satanism, taking on the nature of Satan’s most important characteristic, i.e. opposition and rebellion, is opposed to religion and everything religious, and is for Satan and everything that he represents.

Derived mainly from the witchcraft practices of Europe in the Middle Ages, Satanism has also been seen to be on the rise in Islamic countries. It has become a problem that now appears frequently on the agenda in Muslim countries, as it has begun to attract young people as a rebellious alternative to the philosophy and lifestyle of their parents. Brought to the attention of the Turkish nation when two students at the Alman Lisesi (German High School), Aslı and Alp, committed suicide in Atakoy, Istanbul, June 22, 1998, Satanism tends to find a place among high school students. Moreover, it has been reported that Satanism has spread among high school students and has even become popular with primary school students.

Research reveals that young people involved in Satanism share common characteristics. For example, they are mostly children of well-to-do families or families with an above average income. They receive a better education than their peers do, and have few responsibilities. They are generally brought up in an upper-middle class environment. How can such a movement find opportunity to spread in a country like Turkey, where ninety-nine percent of the population are said to be Muslim? What do these young people lack that impels them to adopt a movement like Satanism? How can a movement that originated among the children of Western families which have fewer resources become popular among children of wealthy Muslim families? Who spreads Satanism among our young people and how? Most important of all, why do the young commit suicide for the sake of Satan? People are already asking, “What are the reasons that lie behind these incidents?” This article will look into the answers to these questions in an impartial manner.