I will not shirk to do this work, for those who post and those who lurk: the Turks are irked. The Turks are irked. What kind of jerk would irk the Turks? One who smirks, “No Muslim perks.”
“The Europeans want to strip off our Islamic identity. We don’t want to join the EU if the price will be deserting Islam.”
But Islam, as I have noted many times, is not just a system of individual piety; it is a political and social system. This political and social system is not in power in Turkey; but the Turkish government is under constant pressure from its adherents, many of whom, indeed, hold positions of power in that government. How then can they join the EU if they don’t desert Islam, or at least parts of it? How can they enter into an alliance of equals with non-Muslim countries? What will be their future intentions toward Europe — particularly if political Islam returns to power in Turkey?
The Turks are irked, eh? So am I. Why would they balk about ID cards and religious courses, unless it were because they balk at granting full equality to their non-Muslim citizens?
From IslamOnline, with thanks to Nicolei:
ANKARA, February 18, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) — European recommendations for Turkey to free citizens’ ID cards from religious reference and to stop compulsory religious courses at schools, raised suspicions and drew criticism in the dominantly Muslim country, with some saying the EU recommendations aim at “neutralizing, then swallowing” the Turkish people, and others believing they hurt the country’s unity.
“The recommendations of the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) demonstrate an interference in Turkish affairs and aim at harming the unity of the Turkish people,” Ali Ozdmer, a retired officer, told IslamOnline.net.
“We are proud that our ID cards highlight our Islamic identity,” he said.
The ECRI has urged the Turkish government to drop any reference to religion on the ID cards and to stop the compulsory religious courses in the Turkish schools, alleging such measures would “bring the country’s standards into line with the European standards”….
“Rights of minorities in Turkey are protected. The non-Muslim minorities live with complete freedom in Turkey .
Ordinary citizens also reacted in anger to the European recommendations.
“I don’t know what the European Union has to do the religion of the Turkish citizens. What is Europe ‘s problem with Islam in order to try to impose such demands,” said Mohamed Dogan, an employee.
He further stressed that such demands were put forward for political reasons and aimed at blocking Turkey ‘s membership in the European Union.
Mostafa Gul Safan, a driver, agreed.
“The Europeans want to strip off our Islamic identity. We don’t want to join the EU if the price will be deserting Islam.”
Funny thing: Muslims in Europe don’t seem to have any problem demanding that Europeans strip off their own cultural identity.