In the same way CAIR renounces terrorism.

Posted by: KAOSKTRL at August 28, 2007 9:20 AM

But he studied in the West. He knows English. So how can he be bad or mad or dangeroous to know, or at least to vote for? I just endured something of the sort from the BBC World Service, being true to itself. Those Turkish "secularists" are depicted, in ways little and big, as prone to hysteria. Besides what's wrong with Islam, and more Islam, if that's what a majority of those Muslims in Turkey want?

If you have to ask "what's wrong with Islam," then you certainly can't afford it.

Posted by: Hugh at August 28, 2007 9:23 AM

The BBC is using exactly the same wording Ex-Islamist Gul must be MSM Moonbat disease.

Posted by: Realist at August 28, 2007 9:35 AM

Let's see. Turkey's ideological makeup is approximately 99% Muslim and 1% (and falling) Christian.

Knowing the penalty of apostasy from Islam, are we to assume that Gul has converted to Christianity or simply abandoned faith altogether and now considers himself a secular atheist?

How ignorant does CNN think everyone is? This is utter nonsense.

Posted by: awake at August 28, 2007 9:36 AM

there is just one reply to the CNN article:

"Come onnn"

Really? Are western media so steadfastly blinded by the hope that Gul will raise the downfalling "US is our friend" image in Turkey?

Is Gul or AKP democrat? Please remember when you are talking about AKP, you are talking about a party whose prime minister Erdogan excommunicated a newspaper columnist for just saying "Gul is not and cannot be my president." He said on air and I quote:

"If Gul is not your president you can leave the country".

Is this democratic? Getting dubbed an outcast, a heretic for telling what you think/feel? If you still think so, then there is only one thing left for me to say:

"C'mooon"

Posted by: comkedi at August 28, 2007 10:09 AM

there is just one reply to the CNN article:

"Come onnn"

Really? Are western media so steadfastly blinded by the hope that Gul will raise the downfalling "US is our friend" image in Turkey?

Is Gul or AKP democrat? Please remember when you are talking about AKP, you are talking about a party whose prime minister Erdogan excommunicated a newspaper columnist for just saying "Gul is not and cannot be my president." He said on air and I quote:

"If Gul is not your president you can leave the country".

Is this democratic? Getting dubbed an outcast, a heretic for telling what you think/feel? If you still think so, then there is only one thing left for me to say:

"C'mooon"

Posted by: comkedi at August 28, 2007 10:09 AM

there is just one reply to the CNN article:

"Come onnn"

Really? Are western media so steadfastly blinded by the hope that Gul will raise the downfalling "US is our friend" image in Turkey?

Is Gul or AKP democrat? Please remember when you are talking about AKP, you are talking about a party whose prime minister Erdogan excommunicated a newspaper columnist for just saying "Gul is not and cannot be my president." He said on air and I quote:

"If Gul is not your president you can leave the country".

Is this democratic? Getting dubbed an outcast, a heretic for telling what you think/feel? If you still think so, then there is only one thing left for me to say:

"C'mooon"

Posted by: comkedi at August 28, 2007 10:09 AM

there is just one reply to the CNN article:

"Come onnn"

Really? Are western media so steadfastly blinded by the hope that Gul will raise the downfalling "US is our friend" image in Turkey?

Is Gul or AKP democrat? Please remember when you are talking about AKP, you are talking about a party whose prime minister Erdogan excommunicated a newspaper columnist for just saying "Gul is not and cannot be my president." He said on air and I quote:

"If Gul is not your president you can leave the country".

Is this democratic? Getting dubbed an outcast, a heretic for telling what you think/feel? If you still think so, then there is only one thing left for me to say:

"C'mooon"

Posted by: comkedi at August 28, 2007 10:09 AM

I have different take on this.

I think it is irrelevant whether Gul is fully paid up Salafist or someone more moderate. What matters is Turkish society. And as time slides on (gloomily) we can say that increasingly Turkish society is becoming more religious and less secular. Given that, it wont be long before Turkey's constitution starts getting tinkered with.

There would be no way Gul could move the goalposts in the majority of Turkey was secular and stayed that way. But with this changing day-by-day, I think Kemal's vision is numbered. 20 years at maximum. Gul will have an increasing majority and confidence to change laws toward Sharia.

Posted by: UK Infidel Lover at August 28, 2007 12:15 PM