Turkey's upcoming election could be the end of Turkish secularism -- unless the hundreds of thousands who demonstrated against Islamic Sharia rule in Ankara, Istanbul and elsewhere recently can pull off an electoral victory, which looks doubtful.
"The Upcoming Elections in Turkey (2): The AKP's Political Power Base," by R. Krespin for MEMRI:
IntroductionTurkey has a large network of Islamist sects, orders, associations, and sheikhs that has a strong impact on politics. In the 1980s, the network's sect sheikhs and religious community leaders directed their followers to vote for the political party of their choice - which traditionally meant center-right parties. However, since that time, the situation has changed, and leaders and followers of religious sects have become active participants in Turkey's political life. Turkish politics today cannot be understood without considering the political role of these religious forces.
Politicians, Islamist Sects, Orders, and Associations In Support of the AKP
In a recent five-part series titled "Sects, Religious Communities, and the July 22 [Elections]" in the secular, mainstream Turkish daily Milliyet, journalist Omer Erbil listed some of the Islamist sects and associations that are playing a role in the upcoming elections. Following are the main points of this review. [1]
1. The Fethullah Gulen community: This is the largest and strongest Islamist community in Turkey, as well as the most prominent representative of the Nur ("Light") movement of Said-i Nursi. [2] It is led by Fethullah Gulen, or, as he is referred to by his community, Fethullah Gulen Hocaefendi, and according to media assessments, about 30 of the AKP candidates who have a good chance of being elected are Fethullah Gulen followers (Fethullahcilar).
2. The Nakshibendi sect: A large Islamist order, which began in the 14th century in Turkistan, Central Asia, and spread to Anatolia and the Balkans, gaining much power in the 19th century. The Halidiye branch lives today in the influential Iskenderpasa, Ismailaga, Erenkoy, and Kashgari communities. Many political figures in Turkey either come from or are influenced by the Nakshibendi tradition. Among these are Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliamentary Speaker Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin. Iskenderpasa Nakshibendi sect leader Mehmed Zahit Kotku is known to have trained former prime minister and president Turgut Ozal, former Islamist prime minister Necmettin Erbakan, and his successor, Islamist Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan.
The Iskenderpasa sect, which is currently led by Sheikh Nurettin Cosan, openly supported the AKP during the 2002 elections. Sheikh Cosan also issued an order to AKP MPs to vote "no" in the March 1, 2003 parliamentary vote on allowing the U.S. military passage through Turkish soil to open a northern front in the war in Iraq, and it is known that some 100 AKP MPs obeyed the order.
Erbakan's Islamist Milli Gorus movement, and its offspring, the AKP, have very close ties with the Nakshibendi Islamist sect. It is believed that about 80 of the sect's faithful were among the founders of the AKP.
3. The Kadiri: One of the oldest Islamist sects, and also part of the Nur movement. The larger branch, Yeni Asyacilar ("Neo-Asians") - which also owns the Islamist Turkish daily Yeni Asya, will, as always, vote for the center-right DP party. However, the Ankara-based Kuscuoglu branch will vote for the AKP.
A sub-division of the Kadiri includes followers of Sheikh Haydar Bas, who is also the chairman of the small Independent Turkish Party (BTP). Sheikh Bas preaches on his own Islamist Mesaj TV channel.
4. Suleymanists (Suleymancilar ): Followers of the late Suleyman Tunahan, a preacher in two important Istanbul mosques, who expanded his community through his then-illegal Koran-study courses. The Suleymanists are now divided under the leadership of two brothers, both Suleyman's grandsons: Ahmet Arif Denizolgun, a former minister from the Homeland Party (ANAP) government, who is currently running in the Democrat Party (DP) list; and Mehmet Beyazit Denizolgun, who is a founder and MP of the AKP and is now running again as an AKP candidate.
5. The Menzil sect: An Adiyaman-based Nakshibendi sub-sect. First led by Muhammed Rasid Erol, the sect emerged in the village of Menzil, and is now found in almost every Turkish city, and is known to be strong in Ankara and Istanbul. The current leader, Feyzettin Erol, took over from his father after the latter's death. The organization now has close ties with the AKP. According to the media, Health Minister Recep Akdag is affiliated with the Menzil sect, and he has staffed his ministry with members of this sect. An AKP MP from Adiyaman, Husrev Kutlu, is also known to be close to the Menzil sect, and has drawn complaints from the Turkish military for his hostile remarks against Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the military. Kutlu is again running as an AKP candidate.
Read it all.
Also isn't Kashgar in Xinxiang province, China? Hard to see how they could influence a Turkish election.
Better sooner than later, before they are foolishly admitted into the EU.
The problem of Turkey is its anti-freedom-political Islam.
The goal of Turkish Islamists is to use the electorate to gain power to institute the rule of Sharia law. The rule of law by Sharia cannot be equated to the rule of law by social agreement and constitutional government, since the latter insures that we are ruled by our agreed upon freedoms, while the prior insures that we are ruled by religious mandate, a coercive mandate as given by the Arabic prophet Mohammed. So the contest in Turkey is not between secularism and theocracy, but between freedom and submission, to a 1400 year old Arabic imperial imperative to subdue the house-of-harb.
If freedom fails in Turkey because of its democratic process, it will be their last vote. Once the Islamists are voted into power, it is impossible to vote them out, since their Sharia does not recognize democratic rights, and may even threaten the vote altogether, or just kill them. So if it goes that way, it will be a one way vote, and ultimately the historic completion of the Arabization of Turkey. If that happens, Turkey will fall away from Europe’s economy, and fall headfirst into the socially backward economies of the Middle East, without the oil.
If they choose theocracy over secular democracy, they will end up like Iran, and it will take them centuries to get back their freedoms now enjoyed. Political Islam will then rule them with the mash fisted Sharia. Forget joining EU - at least not until EU is Arabized too.
I humbly request the Holy Father to make more historic quotes and comments so that the Turks will finish destroying any lingering acceptance of a Turkish integration into the EU.
Give them more rope, please Pope, I still have hope the EU can't cope.
Yes, Plague on both Houses, I agree; His Holiness Pope Benedict could help here by simply stating the obvious on so many topics. I hear that Opus Dei funded the restoration of that fresco "mohammed in Hell." And hey, it wasn't Dante who put him there.
We need to manipulate these very predictable sheep. Another cartoon during ramadan, or whenever they gather around that silly rock in mecca.
Outrage + Hunger = Pandemonium
muslim on muslim killing is a bonus for humanity.
"Better sooner than later, before they are foolishly admitted into the EU" from awake
And
"the Turks will finish destroying any lingering acceptance of a Turkish integration into the EU" from _Plague_on_Both_Houses
Yep, Turkey's membership hopes must surely be extinguished by now. Surely.
Fethullah Gulen is one of the cleverest and most dangerous. He lives in exile in the United States, which gave him refuge when he had some troubles back in Turkey.
What about NATO? Turkey is anchored to the West. We once thought it would prevent their backsliding but instead it could mean they will drag us down with them. Can they be kicked out of NATO and all mutual defense pacts abrogated?
Otherwise aren't we merely strengthening those who want to kill us? There is no reason to expect them to abrogate such treaties as long as they feel those ties present an advantage to Turkey and to Islam.
Well, all these about the network of Islamist sects are unfortunately true.
What is amazing is the truth is revealed to JW community that late..
But, what about the stance of Western countries vis-a-vis increasing islamization in Turkey?
The United States of Arablovers openly support the ruling AKP.
George "W.C" Bush and CondomLezzie Mice both expressed their support of islamofascist Erdogan.
The Eurabian Union also support the islamists..
So does Tassos Papadopoulos, Bakoyanni and Barzani's Kurd government as well as the spokesman of the tiny Armenian community of Turkey.
Why the sudden romance and flirting with islamist crooks?
Because, the economic interests are at stake..
Erdogan is willingly letting the state economic enterprises, ports and key industries taken over by foreign companies.
Trade islam against money.
Trade jihad against oil.
The old tune...