Phantom secularism in Turkey

Submitted by Ianus (Poland), May 24, 2007 at 07:10

Tijen wrote :

> For Turks, religion is a private matter.

The sentence sounds 100%PC . It's optimistic , modern , enlightened ... but has very little to do with Turkish realities. Try to change your Moslem faith in Turkey and say that to a neighbour and police and courts will be promptly interested why you insult Islam and Turkishness . For an attempt at converting a Turk to Christianity you may face up to nine years in jail. Last year two honest Turks , fed up with the so "called religion of peace" , converted to Christianity . Their names are Hakan Tastan , 37, and Turan Topal, 46 . They were immediately accused of insulting Islam and of inciting hate because they dared try to tell other Turks what they thought about Islam and tried to attract them to Christianity. The formal basis of the charges was the notorious Article 301.

" Prosecutors accuse the two of allegedly telling possible converts that Islam was "a primitive and fabricated" religion and that Turks would remain "barbarians" as long they continued practicing Islam, Anatolia reported. The prosecutors also accused them of speaking out against the country's compulsory military service, and compiling databases on possible converts."

http://www.michellemalkin.com/archives/006436.htm

So it is what happens if someone believes your secular fatwa : "For Turks, religion is a private matter." What a nonsense !

But to defend Turkey's phantom virtues worse garbage has been invented and spread by Turkish Islamo-chauvinists .

> Our republic is secular to the bone and will remain that way.

Whoever dares to think otherwise , let think of Article 301 of teh Turkish Penal Code ("denigration of Turkishness") .

> Also, there is no such thing as "Moderate Islam" in our politics!

This sentence is correct if you change "our politics" into "Islam".

> There are Turks of all faiths under our secular ruling system and this is how everyone lives in peace.

Again 99% Moslems in Turkey don't look like belonging to "all faiths" , if I am allowed to trust my secular mind.

As to "peace" la la turque , we know what you mean and are scared of such "Turkish peace" built upon Article 301 , terrorising , persecuting and killing few remaining religious minorities and day-and-night sable-rattling . This is what is meant in plain text by "peace" in Turkey .

In fact it is -to use an un-Turkish metaphor- the all-too-well known Ottoman song of olden days sung again this time by the "secular" choir .

> Got it?

And you ?

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