Muslims & Democracy

Submitted by Gerald Gerjekian (United States), Jul 18, 2002 at 20:19

Mr. Pipes,

When you state that Mustafa Kemal created a top down democracy for Turkey in 1920-1930 you fail to state that this "so-called" democracy was built on a foundation of the bones of the Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, Arabs, who they ethnically cleansed. If a true democracy was to be created then why did they not embrace the diversity which these great peoples, whose ancestral homes for centuries prior to the Turks arrival, were on the very lands.

Do you call Turkey democratic, when Christians are unable to make repairs to their churches, monasteries and clubs, when they are discriminated against daily, when they are not able to name their children with traditional names and told to select a "more Turkish" name.

Do you call democracy Turkish style, when Armenians, Greeks and Jews were single out for taxes in order to diminish their wealth, take over their business and hopefully induce them to leave the country.

Seriously sir, you need to investigate the history of Turkey and its treatment of its minorities before you proclaim them a democratic country. For starters you can look at their treatment of their fellow Muslims the Kurds and then can look at how the generals who truly run the government overthrow the leaders who are elected by the people, who they do not approve of.

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