De-Kemalization of Turkey Alert from the Washington Times, with thanks to Twostellas:
NICOSIA, Cyprus — An escalation of warnings about a growing Islamic threat in Turkey is putting new pressures on the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, possibly damaging its role as Washington’s key ally in the area.
In increasingly bitter verbal exchanges with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Mr. Erdogan rejected charges that he is leading Turkey away from its secular system toward Islamic fundamentalism.
Mr. Sezer’s latest broadside was a statement to the War Academy that “religious fundamentalism has reached dramatic proportions.” Islamic fundamentalism “is trying to infiltrate politics, education and the state, it is systematically eroding values,” Mr. Sezer said.
“Religious people also have a right to politics. … If you want to keep the faithful out of politics, the people will never forgive you,” Mr. Erdogan said in response.
Read it all.