SECULARISM UNDER THREAT IN TURKEY? [+] serious ballot by xxxxxxxx ACTIVE Mon Apr 16, 07 - 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 No, not at all Ballot #114015 : SEE RESULTS Comment: show your vote with comment?

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