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June 15, 2006

Turkey: Two Thirds Want Muslim Headscarf Ban Repealed

We recently reported on the current polarisation in Turkey between secularists and Islamists. Since Kemal Ataturk took power and founded modern Turkey as a secular nation 70 years ago, moves towards Islam were suppressed. The election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKPor Justice & Development Party in late 2002 has changed that. His party is comprised of members of formerly banned Islamist parties, and Erdogan is fiercely opposed to the constitutional ban on the wearing of Muslim headscarfs in state buildings, including schools. His wife Ermine is always photographed wearing a headscarf.

A poll has found that two thirds of Turkish citizens support Erdogan's aim, the removal of the hijab ban. The poll, quoted in the Washington Post, in Arab News and Islam Online, was carried out in 22 cities by the Universities of Isik and Sabanci in Istanbul. Conducted between March and April, the pollsters questioned 1,846 people.

The results of the poll show marked support for Islamic ideals, rather than secularism. Despite the wealth which has been brought to Turkey from European tourism, almost half of those polled said tourists spoil Turkish morality and harm its culture. Conservative Muslims do not approve of scantily clad foreigners at Turkish resorts.

60% found that failures in life were caused by a lack of religious faith.

60% also said that they would oppose their daughter marrying a non-Muslim.

Almost a third believed that boys and girls should be segregated in education, with single gender classrooms.

Almost a third did not approve of Turkey's democratic processes. 40% of respondents said they would prefer a military-led government.

More than half were in favour of Erdogan's Islamist AKP party. There will be a general election by 2007.

Less people were in favour of the European Union, which Turkey has been trying to join. A few years ago, 74% were in favour of the EU, but now the figure has dropped to 54%.

Just over half of those polled thought that political freedoms and human rights should be curtailed for the sake of Turkey's interests as a nation.

Yesterday, Turkey officially condemned a report by the Council of Europe which was published last week. This listed Turkey as one of 14 "European" nations that colluded in or tolerated the secret transfer of terror suspects by the United States. The foreign ministry spokesman, Namik Tan, said of this claim: "The Turkish government and state never played a part ... and never will."

The report had been drawn up by Swiss parliamentarian Dick Marty which listed places supposedly used by the US for "extraordinary rendition". The countries named as actively involved were Turkey, Sweden, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Britain, Italy, Germany and Macedonia. The countries who were said to be "colluding", either actively or passively, were Poland, Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Ireland, Portugal and Greece.

Yesterday, Amnesty International, in its own report, claimed that Turkey was involved in the transfer of terror suspects.

Namik Tan also said if results of an inquiry into a midair collision of a Greek and a Turkish fighter jet on May 23 found that the Turkish pilot was found to be exonerated, then Turkey would be demanding compensation from Athens.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at June 15, 2006 10:49 PM

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