Creeping Islamism in Turkey
The Islamist ruling party in Turkey [AKP] has “a strategy for a creeping Islamization that culminates in a Shari’a (Islamic law) state not compatible with a secular, democratic order. The AKP does not advertise this agenda and often denies it.” Turkish courts confirmed the secret agenda. However, in the name of democracy, the U.S. and the EU demand that countervailing Turkish circles accept the AKP positions subverting the military, judiciary, and educational system. This Western pressure is naïve, for it betrays the democratic elements in Turkey to the Islamists, who, as they consolidate power, crimp democracy. Democracy is not just rule by the majority but allows civil rights, minority opinion and cultural freedom consistent with constitutional order. In Turkey, democracy is a cover for creeping Islamism and the ending democracy.
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The only difference between moderate and jihadist Islamists is the use of ballots. The naïve West thinks that including Islamists in politics would tame it. It didn’t in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iraq. Hamas and Hizbullah kept their militias, which contravenes democracy (Paul Marshall, Jewish Political Chronicle, spring 2009, p.11 from M. E. Quarterly, winter 2009).
via Creeping Islamism in Turkey.
The support given by European and US Governments to the AKP has proved fatal to the secular institutions of Turkey. There are times in which violence is the last resort. The first is intelligence.
