The AKP’s Agenda in Turkey: Islamization
‹ Article Page

1. Posted by c3

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #82256 ›

   c3 Michael; I read the article and have these comments (from a decided "non-expert" and christian American citizen with a decidedly American view of democracy) 1. As with other articles regarding the Islamist movement in Turkey the "head scarf" is the key example. I will continue to have difficulty seeing this as the first step away from Democracy. Help me understand how its no different than me wearing a cross around my neck in the US 2. I hate to say it but such articles beg the question of "what is the religion and religious practices of the author(s)". I would feel more comfortable with an analysis by a practicing Muslim. I'm not saying the author isn't, but it seems so often in the US that the critics of religious encroachment on democracy are secularist who IMHO struggle to understand a religious worldview 3. The article addresses this but I find the overall tenor of the article to once again beg the question: "Is Islam incompatible with democracy?" I hope not.
• Posted by Sam

  | Quote | Trackback | Link #109230 ›

  Sam Please get a copy of Koran and read it. Thanks!!!!
2. Posted by haase125

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #82300 ›

   haase125 This article is spot on. The author obviously understands the dynamics of Turkey. The AKP is an Islamic fascist movement and is a sworn enemy of secularism. It will not take too long before Turkey is fascist dictatorship ruled by Islamic head-cases. Turkey is heading for an implosion and the West has to stop emboldining the Erdogan government. Unless of course the current situation is what the West wanted in the first place. As a Turkish Cypriot, I fear the problems of Turkey are being exported to Northern Cyprus as well.
3. Posted by marc

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #82305 ›

   marc It's a tricky path you propose to walk. How does Turkey or any country espouse democracy on one hand and deny its application on the other? If the vast majority of citizens want to be governed like Iran is, for instance, is that not the will of the people? I'm not saying you're wrong - an Iranian-style theocracy in Turkey would be a disaster for that country and the rest of the world. But philosophically how do you deny voters what they want, particularly in the long-term? My answer has always been to educate young people like crazy so that they will learn to appreciate the freedoms of a democratic state. But what if that doesn't happen, the masses remain largely ignorant and desirous of Sharia, and internal pressures become uncontrollable?
4. Posted by Avi

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #82312 ›

   Avi As one that has lived in Turkey, I can assert without hesitation that Turkey has become an Islamic state. It has been deluding the USA, Europe and the rest of the world That it is a "Secular Democratic Republic". Those are not the aims of Erdogan nor Gul. Shaaria law is the ultimate objective and nothing short of that will do. It is being implemented systematically across State and local governments with unseen and unforeseen impunity. Erdogan and Gul are wolves in sheep clothing
5. Posted by Michael van der Galien ›

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #82324 ›

   Michael van der Galien

   My answer has always been to educate young people like crazy so that they will learn to appreciate the freedoms of a democratic state. But what if that doesn’t happen, the masses remain largely ignorant and desirous of Sharia, and internal pressures become uncontrollable?

   If you are not the U.S. or Europe you may not have a lot of money to do this. You kick off such a project, of course, but it will take a long before you have the money necessary in order to truly educate the population. What if an Islamist party comes to power in the meantime and messes with the education system you put in place? Of course, you will say, they can borrow from the West. But what if history has shown you that the West is not trustworthy? What then? Well, in such a case, 'democracy' in the long term may not be in the country's interest. Aside from that, I firmly believe that countries in different parts of the world, with different cultures and histories need different approaches. The 'democracy' thing may work reasonably well in the West, but that does not automatically mean that we should just copy our own system and implement them everywhere else.
6. Posted by marc

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #82326 ›

   marc Michael, my question is more sociological than political. To paraphrase an old saw: You can keep some of the people under control all of the time and all of the people under control some of the time. But you can't keep all of the people under control all of the time. I understand that secular Turks rely on the military to counter Islamic popularism. Can that balance really last? Or is it a short-term solution? If so, what is needed to create long-term stability?
7. Posted by JBond

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #82693 ›

   JBond I have been living in Turkey for 15 years. During these years, I have been desperately and sadly watching the drastic changes in the social and political life of Turkey. It is heading with full speed towards an Iran-style Sharia country. It is really disappointing to see the already immature secular and democratic system, that Ataturk for years tried to implant in Turkey, disappear and leave its place to a despotic Islamist system. The Islamist AKP might have come to power through elections, but that does not mean that it is right; Nazis and Fachists also came to power through elections. However, there is the bitter reality that most of Turkish people are undereducated and underdeveloped to an extent that even the secularist military would not be able to save them from the Islamist drift; an ideology which grows best in underdeveloped, undereducated, non-modern and poor environments. Unfortunately, you cannot change the minds of every single person of Turkey even with military force! Too sad for a country that some years ago was the example of a modern Muslim - not Islamist - country, although it has never reached a full democratic stage.
8. Posted by Aaron

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #110775 ›

   Aaron Erdogan Is an Islamist and an evil man. I have seen him in interviews and seems nothing short of one who will subjegate Turkey to dictatorship of the worst kind. Iran loved their islamic republic. Now if they had to do it all again they would never let these religious hypocrites and liars ever gain power again. Once the religious are forced out of office in Iran they will throw them out for good. I suppose that will happen in Turkey eventually after many years of the coming suffering. I could not believe that Turks were so naive to elect these monsters in the first place.
9. Posted by Munir Munshey

   | Quote | Trackback | Link #111881 ›

   Munir Munshey It is so old fashioned to classify Islam according to race and ethnicity: Turkish Islam, Arab Islam, Indian Islam and so on. Those were the "good old days" when race reigned supreme and when Muslims were mostly enslaved and uneducated. Nowadays, Islam is supposed to be divided into moderate and radical groups. That too shall pass! Muslims may want to ask: why is the Islamization of those who believe in Islam so bad? And why would the opinions of the Christians matter when it comes to the adherents of Islam wanting to practice what they see fit for themselves?