WHAT IS BEHIND ISLAMISM IN TURKEY?
OhmyNews International
iew/article_view.asp?article_class=3&no=382795 &rel_no=1
June 9 2008
South Korea
[Opinion] A look at the probable effects of the growth of Islamism
in Turkey
The protests in Turkey by thousands of Muslims attacking the
constitutional court for blocking government moves to allow college
students to wear Muslim headscarves was somehow predictable.
History
Turkey was the head of the Ottoman Empire for nearly half a
millennium. Then, nearly 100 years ago, Kemal Ataturk changed Turkey’s
identity from Islamism to secularism. He succeeded because the former
empire had become very conservative and radical — a clear sign that
its end was near.
The Turks did not accept the new regime for the sake of secularism;
they accepted it to end the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
Reasons
When secularism was established in 1923 the Turkish people were thought
to believe that it was the best for the nation, but in reality it
was just handed to them on a plate. They hadn’t fought for it.
When the majority of Turks voted for the current Islamic ruling party
in last year’s elections they did not think about how much secularism
was worth as a ruling and societal regime.
Only the government know that secularism was meant to (1) put an to
end the rule of the Ottoman Empire, which was led by an autocratic
caliph, and (2) put an end to religious discrimination, which hampered
progress.
More recently, secularism represented Turkey’s best chance to become
a member in the European Union.
Probable Effects
What’s happening now in Turkey — the ideological conflict between
secularism and Islamism — is hurting its goal of joining the EU. The
idea of a becoming a religious state should be totally erased from the
Turkish consciousness, for no reason other than that it is impossible
for Europe today to accept into its fold any nation based on religious
ideas.
There are two sides in Turkey. The court will probably ban the ruling
party soon because it fears the party’s influence over the country’s
citizens. But this will not be the end. Another Islamic party will
likely appear to take its place. That’s because the aim of fundamental
Islamism is to rule the world. All the Islamic parties and movements
are connected and helping each other.
According to the CIA World Factbook, 99.8 percent of Turkey’s
population is Muslim. There are three non-Muslim minority religious
communities — Greek Orthodox Christians, Armenian Orthodox Christians
and Jews, forming 0.2 percent. Most Muslims in Turkey are Sunnis —
about 75 percent. Those belonging to the second largest Muslim sect
are Alevis or Nasiris, and form a significant chunk of the rest. What
does that mean?
It means that if another Islamic party appears in Turkey to replace
the current one it will have a majority of the voters, as happened
a year ago.
Such a repetitive situation could create a new Islamic fundamental
consciousness in Turkey. A return to secularism will grow more
difficult and Turkey will no longer be considered a European country
geographically. Also, foreign relations suffer from mistrust.
It also could lead to the migration of Jews currently in Turkey, which
could become a sensitive issue with Israel. What’s more, the conflict
with the Kurds will increase if Turkey becomes an Islamic nation.
Finally, it is important for the Turkish people to know the cost
of standing beside a religious party. They should not forget what
secularism did for them, their culture, their economy, their tourism
and their nation. They should learn from other experiences; they should
remember the Ottoman Empire and the European Dark Ages. Then for sure,
they will know how great liberal secularism is.
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