“To convert it back to a mosque is to say to the rest of the world unfortunately we are not secular anymore,” said Pamuk.
We’ve been warning about Turkey’s re-Islamization for years and were condemned as “Islamophobic.” Now that re-Islamization is obvious to everyone.
“World reacts to Turkey’s decision to re-convert Hagia Sophia into mosque,” Ahval News, July 11, 2020:
The world has been reacting to the Turkish government’s decision to re-convert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque.
“To convert it back to a mosque is to say to the rest of the world unfortunately we are not secular anymore,” Turkish Nobel prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk told the BBC on Friday.
“There are millions of secular Turks like me who are crying against this but their voices are not heard.”…
noxomus says
why not back to a Christian Church? Thats what it was before Islam reared its ugly head
J Morgan says
Someone should let the Pope know that they are no longer secular. So much for that dialogue.
SAFI says
“re-islamization” is putting it very, very, very mildly… more like re-caliphatization…
DH says
The narcissist ruler of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is on a mission to be the #1 living hero of Muslims around the World. He has thrown away Turkey’s notable presence as the only Muslim country devoted to keeping the dividing line between government and religion intact. He is recasting the core identity of his own country, whom he presumably hated before he came into office, around his own self appointed role as a very important Muslim on the World stage. And, of course, he used Democracy to bring about it’s end. Free thought and speech is not something that ever occurred to Muhammad or Allah or Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
mortimer says
Muslims can never again claim that Islam is tolerant.
Michael Copeland says
“Democracy is like a train. When you reach your destination you step off.”
Erdogan (paraphrased).
gravenimage says
Yep.
Keith O says
Very brave man. Being truthful and stating the obvious can be a life threatening action these days.
I would think that his life span has been reduced by making these statements.
Michael Copeland says
Orhan Pamuk lives in USA. It is too dangerous for him to return to Turkey.
gravenimage says
Exactly, Michael.
gravenimage says
Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk on Hagia Sophia: ‘To convert it to a mosque is to say we are not secular anymore’
…………….
Pamuk is right. He has himself suffered for being a Secularist:
He and his work are mostly admired in the West, and not in Turkey. He teaches in the US.
He’s been tried in absentia for daring to cite the Armenian Genocide and persecution of the Kurds, and his books have been burnt in public.
mortimer says
Novelist Orhan Pamuk is correct. What business is it of a ‘SECULAR’ government to build or consecrate houses of worship?
Clearly, a secular state should stay out of religion and let the religions regulate themselves.
Michael Copeland says
Scholar Dr. J.S. Idris of Sudan confirms,
“Separation of mosque and state is not an option.”
https://gatesofvienna.net/2020/02/islams-agenda-muslims-speak/
OLD GUY says
Turkey needs to be kicked out of NATO and but on the list of terrorist nations. There is no doubt that Turkeys leadership is taking the country towards an Islamic dictatorship that will threaten the free world. The U.S. needs to shut off the foreign aide and put sanctions on trade with Turkey.
Isaac says
The west and america should watch out this man ,I think everybody eyes is now opening