All aboard the Islamist streetcar

Submitted by Lazman (United States), Dec 13, 2009 at 22:27

Havas, here is some friendly advice for you: don't try to solve centuries of humanity's problems and Islamist's psyche all in one commentary. You'll expose yourself to endless criticism.

However, let me briefly address your only question "what makes you think that mr Erdoğan and AKP party is islamist?"

My response is that I guess I take the past comments of a nation's prime minister seriously. In addition to the above "minarets are our bayonets," other Erdogan comments include the following: "We will turn all our schools into religious schools (İmam Hatips); Thank God Almighty, I am a servant of the Shari'a; I am the Imam of Istanbul [he said this while the mayor of Istanbul]; You cannot be both secular and a Muslim, you will either be a Muslim, or secular; and [one of my favorites] Democracy is like a streetcar, you ride it until you arrive at your destination and then you step off". Further, his background of graduating from Imam Hatip school, entering the Islamist movement at a young age, supporting the proposal to inaugurate Parliament by reciting the Qu'ran, allowing AKP to ban alcohol from cafes and restaurants, trying to make adultery a crime etc. I can only spend so much on this list, but I will admit Erdogan is quite good and sophisticated, hence the 2.0.

No one is attacking the religion of Islam, although I personally believe this once great religion is way behind times and desperately in need of reformation so that young and ill-educated minds won't easily be manipulated in the name of Allah, so that it does not get abused by backward Imams, and so that it is not used as a tool for election by Islamist politicians to get the votes of ignorant masses. Unless Islam undergoes reformation, strict secularism is the only way for a Muslim country to advance in modern times. Look around and study without the religious blinders.

Finally, you need to know the difference between Islam and Islamist. Here is a recent article to help you understand:

http://www.defenddemocracy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11787348&Itemid=105

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