Ms DD Posted April 30, 2007 Huge rally for Turkish secularism The rally is being described as a huge show of force Hundreds of thousands of people have rallied in Istanbul in support of secularism in Turkey, amid a row over a vote for the country's next president. The protesters are concerned that the ruling party's candidate for the post remains loyal to his Islamic roots. The candidate, Abdullah Gul, earlier said he would not quit despite growing criticism from opponents and the army. 1950: Born in Kayseri 1991: Elected to parliament for pro-Islamist Welfare Party 2001: One of founders of AK 2002-03: Prime minister 2003: Foreign minister, leading EU accession talks Mr Gul failed to win election in a first round parliamentary vote which opponents say was unconstitutional. Opposition MPs boycotted the vote. They are also challenging its validity in the Constitutional Court. An army statement on Friday accused the government of tolerating radical Islam and vowed to defend secularism. Business leaders have also issued a statement calling on the court to annul the vote, paving the way for early elections. The influential TUSIAD association said a vote was necessary "to preserve the inseparable principles of democracy and secularism". Mr Gul has steered Turkey's European Union accession talks as foreign minister and is seen as less confrontational than Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development (AK) party. "The president must be loyal to secular principles. If I am elected, I will act accordingly," he said after his nomination for the presidency. But some analysts say he is closer to his religious roots, and his wife would be the first First Lady to wear a headscarf, a deeply divisive statement in Turkey. 'Test case' The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says secularists are concerned that if he is elected, the AK party will control the presidency, the government and parliament. Sunday's "Republican Meeting", planned by dozens of non-governmental organisations, took place in the city's Caglayan Square. "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," shouted demonstrators from all over the country as they waved flags and pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. "We want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey," they added. Many sang nationalist songs and called for the government's resignation. Our correspondent describes the rally as an enormous show of force. More than 300,000 people attended a similar event two weeks ago. On Saturday, AK spokesman Cemil Cicek responded to Friday's unusually forthright army statement, saying any intervention was inconceivable in a democratic state. The military, which led coups in the past, said it was concerned by the party's choice of presidential candidate. History of coups Our correspondent in Istanbul says the army statement late on Friday night caused a real stir in Turkey. Many also believe that it is also a message to the judges in the constitutional court to declare the vote invalid and dissolve parliament, she adds. The army has carried out three coups in the last 50 years - in 1960, 1971 and 1980 - and in 1997 it intervened to force Turkey's first Islamist Prime Minister, Necmettin Erbakan, from power. The AK is an offshoot of Mr Erbakan's Welfare Party, which was banned in 1998. The secularist Republican People's Party (CHP), which boycotted Friday's vote, said it would challenge the election in court because a quorum of MPs had not been obtained - a charge the AK denies. A second round of voting is due on Wednesday and the court has said it will try to rule on the appeal before the vote. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6607033.stm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted April 30, 2007 The other side are probably ten times that number. Still, keeping Turky secualr is the best way right now. Nothing but trouble will come out of trying to change things. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms DD Posted April 30, 2007 Especially when the army vowed to defend secularism. We can see that it aint just a religion that can be militant here. No doubt, there will be no condemnation from this sort of militancy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted April 30, 2007 D&D This is a prime example of the way some Muslims (Turkey is a Muslim country) think and act. It’s very unfortunate that they somehow perceive secularism as equalling freedom. It is also unfortunate that Turkey has failed to educate its masses on Islam and banning its symbols in public institutions. Today they think Islamic reforms will change their lives for worse based on what Attaturk did. Turkey is weird place! "We want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey," they added. Are they not protesting a democratic choice to be made by parliament? :rolleyes: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms DD Posted April 30, 2007 First of all ..I am suprised if this is called democracy. The army will remove anything Islamic, even if the people choose. As Ngonge mentioned, those who oppose the secular movements are even more people. It seems that Islamic parties are popular in Turkey judging from the number of times the army interfered. There is nice artcle on this very subject: http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:Ilc02rPv_GgJ:www.islamtoday.com/book/I_secular/Islam%2520and%2520Secularism%2520_proofread_.pdf+turkey+islam+and+secularism&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7& gl=uk In the above link, you will find nice gems like: How can we possibly reconcile between the position of secularism and Allah’s command:“Say: verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds. He has no partner. This is how I have been commanded and I am the first of those who submit.” [sūrah al-An`ām: 162-163] The phrase “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and give unto Allah what is Allah’s” is exactly what the pagans in Mecca were saying when the Prophet (peace be upon him)was sent to them.Allah informs us in the Qur’ānthat they used to say: “They assign unto Allah, of the crops and cattle which He created, a portion, and theysay: ‘This is for Allah - in their make-believe – ‘and this is for His partners with respect to us’.” [surah al-An`ām: 136]“Yet they attribute to some of His servants a share with Him.” [sūrah al-Zukhruf: 15]“And they assign unto Allah that which they themselves dislike, and their tongues pronounce the lie that the better portion will be theirs. Assuredly theirs will be the Fire,and they will be hastened to it and abandoned.” [sūrah al-Nahl: 62] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ElPunto Posted April 30, 2007 ^Sometimes one can't help generalizing even though it's wrong - this above is a prime reason why I don't care for Turks. I've never seen any 'Muslim' society with their degree of self-loathing. Helluva brainwash by good ole Ataturk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FatB Posted May 1, 2007 there thinking "we want to join the EU" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
