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Hundreds of thousands protest against the steady erosion, at the hands of the Erdogan government, of the separation of religion and state in Turkey. Of course, if Erdogan didn't have his own supporters, he wouldn't be Prime Minister now, and apparently the inevitable next President.
From the TimesOnline, with thanks to Kemaste:
Hundreds of thousands of Turks took part in two days of protests hoping to persuade the Prime Minister against running for president, amid concerns that his election would put at risk the separation of religion and state in the predominantly Muslim country.Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to decide this week whether to stand for president next month. Since his Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has roots in political Islam, has a substantial parliamentary majority, its candidate is assured of succeeding Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the President, who is a staunch secularist.
Mr Erdogan, who has presided over strong economic growth and has worked hard to secure Turkey’s European Union candidacy, presents himself as a conservative democrat. But opponents remain suspicious of his Islamist past. Mr Erdogan has served a prison term for sedition and his wife covers her head in the Islamic manner. During his leadership his party has attempted to criminal-ise adultery, banish alcohol from some establishments and relax restrictions on religious education and headscarves.
His opponents, who include top bureaucrats, academics, judges and generals, believe that he has a hidden Islamist agenda to undermine the strict separation of religion and state, which he could put into practice if AKP held all the top government and state posts.
Although in Turkey the Government makes the decisions, the President has the power of veto and traditionally only the staunchest secularists have occupied the most senior position in the State. Kemal Atatörk, the creator of modern Turkey 84 years ago, who dismantled the Islamic Caliphate as part of his political reforms, was the first President of the country, and his successors include several top generals.
Mr Erdogan, still testing the waters, has played down his ambitions publicly and told his MPs that general elections due by November are more important. His failure to confirm so far whether he will stand has sparked prolonged debate and led to what amounts to a grudging acceptance of his inevitable ascent, and even the pragmatic financial markets have factored in his election after some volatility. But as the moment of truth approaches, feelings run higher than ever.
Increasingly alarmist talk surrounding the possibly candidacy culminated in strident speeches last week by the outgoing President Sezer and General Yasar Buyukanit, the head of the powerful military.
“The political regime in Turkey has not faced as big a threat as it does today at any stage since the Republic was founded,” said Mr Sezer, referring to a period in which the military dislodged the elected Government four times.
Posted by Robert at April 16, 2007 3:28 AM
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Oh yes,see Biased Broadcasting Cretins aka BBC, are fondly displaying this story about SECULAR
TURKEY defending DEMOCRACY!
"Take no notice,Johnny,the crocodile doesn't really want to eat us up"..
In truth of course,only Thousands of Secular Turks have marched and there are MILLIONS OF FANATICAL ISLAMISTS & THEIR HIJABBED MUSLIMAHS
WAITING TO ESTABLISH ANOTHER OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN EUROPE.
As for Taqiyya Erdogan,he has sought ALL his life to turn Turkey into an ISLAMIC STATE WITH SHARIA LAW.
Personally I'm not against a power struggle between these luvely bovver boys-nor will Kurds be either. Infidels should not interfere,let them slaughter each other in the name of their Death Cult & Demon Allah.Let the Infidels be ready though to move in when the Muslims are weakened and take back every bit of land stolen
from the Christians-which indeed will leave the
nasty old bird without much of a backyard.Another thought has occurred to me-let
every Christian Country which suffered so much suffering over centuries draw up a list of monetary restitution...
![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 16, 2007 4:06 AM
Apologies Folks,please ignore 'suffering' & should be 'list for'.Should have proof read comment before pressing ze button...
Posted by: Morgane at April 16, 2007 4:15 AM
" nothing can stop the steamroller of political Islam."
.......that is a pessimistic outlook....as the Islamic forces continue to try to force their 7th century mindset on the rest of the world, the Non MUslim peoples are beginning to fight back....Muslims make referrences to the Crusades, usually misrepresenting them....it appears they may yet see another crusade...and just like past history, the Muslims will be be cause for the crusade to occur....only this time the crusade will be more violent and longer lasting than past crusades....
at April 16, 2007 8:11 AM
Another thought has occurred to me-let
every Christian Country which suffered so much suffering over centuries draw up a list of monetary restitution...
Posted by: Morgane
Amen to THAT!
Posted by: Allahfanculo at April 16, 2007 8:14 AM
The Turks put Erdogan and his party in power in free elections, knowing full well they were Islamists. It was no secret.
so what did they think he would do?
Posted by: rational at April 16, 2007 11:01 AM
Will the EU admit a fully Islamic Turkey? I wish the answer was 'no,' but instead, I think the EU is in full appeasement mode, and will take Turkey on as a member even if they turn into a full theocracy.
I suppose the only real questions are 'when will Turkey officially become non-secular' and 'when will they start murdering non-Muslims?'
Posted by: s at April 16, 2007 11:20 AM
"It is the nature of Islam not to be dominated, but to dominate."- al-Banna.
The only response to that threat it to force it to reform itself into something non-terroristic.
Or expunge it from the Earth.
The Islamists in Turkey will expand until they rule.
Unless they are destroyed.
I hope the EU is watching.
Their necks are next.
Posted by: profitsbeard at April 16, 2007 11:47 AM
Is the E.U. really that stupid? No need to respond.
Posted by: walterc at April 16, 2007 12:03 PM
Not stupid. Blind.
The Turks won points when they stopped the US from using Turkey in the Iraq invasion.
As everyone knows, the US is the "most dangerous" nation on the earth, so Turkey'a rampant Islamism is nothing.
Wait till Iran gets invited to join a "Eurasian" Union. Won't that be fun?
at April 16, 2007 2:39 PM
I figured Turkey was a goner when they passed up 60 Billion Dollars for a hollow European Promise.
It is only a matter of time before Turkey melts. The Loonies will remember its age old Northern Enemy as they hack and stab at the Kurds.
Never Aggressive Towards Others.
The terms necessary to keep Turkey a member.
Posted by: flowerknife_us at April 16, 2007 9:02 PM
Infidels should not interfere,let them slaughter each other in the name of their Death Cult & Demon Allah.Let the Infidels be ready though to move in when the Muslims are weakened and take back every bit of land stolen.
[From a post above]
No wonder those who are capable of making such demented remarks as above have elected a chimp like George "W.C" Bush for president and for two consecutive terms.
So you will only be moving in when the muslims are weakened in a potential fight between the secularists and islamists, eh?.
And what if secularists are beaten and the so called mild islamist government is subsequently toppled by a much fanatical one, akin to islamic revolution in iran?
The west and the american cowboys have an idiotic ability to make things so simple to solve that, the trauma they experience after all their scenarios fail is, to say the least, pathetic.
There are 3 million turks in germany, a few hundred thousands in europe, tukey has close ties with central asian republics and if the secular system collapses it will have ramifications much beyond the turkish border my friend.
So the last moment, the brave american cowboys will come in to bring "peace" and "democracy" just like the way they did in Iraq, I suppose?
So that no single day passes without a bomb exploding here and there killing not only locals but golden boys from the U.S (good riddance!).
Posted by: Icarus_Project at April 17, 2007 3:44 AM
Another thought has occurred to me-let
every Christian Country which suffered so much suffering over centuries draw up a list of monetary restitution...
[From a post by Morgane]
And where do you want them to deposit the money, cherie?
HSBC, Citibank or Chase Manhattan ?
That remark alone should show that the so-called fight against islam isn't supposed to be conducted to defend freedom or democracy, but to scramble for money (that the US of A worship) and the middle east's oil rich lands.
at April 17, 2007 5:48 AM
"And what if secularists are beaten and the so called mild islamist government is subsequently toppled by a much fanatical one, akin to islamic revolution in iran"
.......the fanatical one will indeed take over....the enemy will become easier to define and identify....
......it is time to choose sides for the final showdown anyway.....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 1:33 PM
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