result #114015 - SECULARISM UNDER THREAT IN TURKEY?

search this site: search the web:

Tired of work? We are not filtered, waste time at bestandworst.com, tell your boss about it!

result #114015 - SECULARISM UNDER THREAT IN TURKEY?

user ballots

Popular Ballots
Recent Popular
Recent Votes

Best
Worst
Yes or No
Choices
What If
Prediction
Advice
Would You
Crime
Recommend
Quiz

TV & Movie
Music & Radio
Political
Science
Sports
Relationship
Techonology
Culture
Philosophy
Religion
Ethics
History
Food & Health
Fashion & Beauty
Crime
FanBase

Discussion
Bug Report

SECULARISM UNDER THREAT IN TURKEY?

[+] serious ballot by xxxxxxxx
ACTIVE Apr 16,2007 - Tue Apr 15, 08

"Turkish secularists rally over attack
By Pam O'Toole
BBC News

An attack on Turkey's top administrative court has brought to the surface simmering tensions between secularists and Turkey's governing Justice and Development Party, which has Islamist roots.

Turkish media have described the gunman as an Islamist and the incident is being linked to a court ruling earlier this year barring a teacher from promotion because she wore a headscarf.
Wednesday's attack, in which one judge was killed and four others injured, has become a rallying point for Turkish secularists - one columnist referred to it as "Turkey's September 11th".

The country's President, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, himself a former judge, described it as "an attack on the secular republic".

Many thousands of people came onto the streets of Ankara to mourn the murdered judge and defend the country's secular constitution.

Government ministers attending the funeral were met with chants of "murderers out" and calls for their resignations.

The country's powerful military, which regards itself as the guardian of Turkey's secular state, turned out in force.

The shooting has brought to the surface simmering tensions between the overwhelmingly Muslim, but staunchly secular, Turkish establishment and the governing Justice and Development Party.

Secularism is the cornerstone of the modern Turkish state, which was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

However, political Islam has been on the rise in Turkey over the past decade."

(Source: BBC)

- Do you agree with me that this sort of thing should make the EU less willing to take Turkey in as a member?

I believe- yes, Turkey does have a very secular establishment at the moment; and yes, most Turks are very Westernised and modern. HOWEVER, there are radical Islamist elements in Turkey that are still very significant, although not in the majority, influential and capable of making an impact nonetheless. Many even use militant and terrorist tactics against Turkey's secular and Western-leaning establishment. My fear is- that if Turkey joins the European Union and therefore would pressure Turkey to Westernise even more (once a member of the EU, Turkey would be under more pressure to Westernise and to maintain this. I have no doubt Islamist extremists will view this as 'bullying' and will blame the EU irrationally for all sorts of things), the extremist and terrorist factions in Turkey may begin to not only target and vent anger and violence at Turkey's secular establishment, but they will begin to also do the same to the EU. I fear that as soon as Turkey joins the EU: Islamists will launch a separatist drive immediately, that they may even use violence against symolic places in Brussels, etc, to prove their point, and Europe will be caught up in a struggle it ultimately should not have to be involving itself in. The Turkish Prime Minister has declared that the threats aimed against Turkey's secular and modern establishment is stronger than it has ever been, and that these threats are increasing.

Do you agree with me that this sort of thing should make the EU less willing to take Turkey in as a member?

Yes, the extremist factions of Turkey would see the EU as an enemy as well if Turkey joined the EU	5
No, not at all	2

Ballot #114015: has 7 total votes.
invite people to vote on this ballot!

Comment:

content @ BESTANDWORST.COM

smile bank:

email this ballot link to friends

You can also reach this ballot at :
http://BestAndWorst.com/key/Secularism_under_threat_in_Turkey?

similiar ballots:
112166. Which is better: secularism or theocracy?
112245. The Threat Factor: Was Iraq Really A Threat To The United States ?
13646. do you want Turkey to enter EU??
14194. should turkey enter the EU?
17143. Is turkey friend of USA?
127082. Have you ever had turkey fries?
9998. Who will be the winner of Popstar in Turkey?
103182. Biggest Turkey for Thanksgiving
105606. Best Way To Cook Your Thanksgiving Turkey?
106707. Turkey criticises EU 'injustice' ?

COMMENTS:
Turkey as a whole is very modern and civilised (with the exception of the Kurdish east). However, there are extremist and violent factions that still exist, of which the establishment is still struggling to contain their violent radicalism. The EU would become a target of this faction if Turkey became a member. And there is no guarantee how limited this pressure group will be in the future.

Generally speaking, let in a distinct state, and there is a good chance that sooner or later, this distinct state may have a nationalist back-lash on a much larger scale and become separatist or have separatist factions.

by xxxxxxxx on Mon Apr 16, 07 7:58am [+]

I don't know about 'under threat' it was one shooting and many still support secularism. But yeah, I don't think it's a good idea to let them in the EU

by aya on Mon Apr 16, 07 8:43am [+]

aya- This is not the first incident of Islamist radicalism. And while most Turks are indeed civilised, and there is a cultural core that is civilised- there are fringe groups that are trouble-makers and that although small in number cause Turkey great headaches (the fact that there were pro-secular rallies, proves that the secularists feel threatened)- the Islamists view Turkey's secular establishment as an enemy. Joining the EU would mean these radicals would view the EU as their enemy as well. I believe this will not cause trouble at first- but decades down the track, it could alter become a separatist problem, as we are living in the era of the Islamic Resurgence, and radicalism has been and continues to increase, even in Turkey.

by xxxxxxxx on Mon Apr 16, 07 9:40am [+]

I don't think the EU is a good idea. Too many voices to make it all work.

by Truthseeker013 on Mon Apr 16, 07 6:33pm [+]

About Us | Join Us | Privacy Policy |