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Video Flagged Dead

Is Islamic Government Compatible With A Secular Democracy?

submitted by gwaan

1 decade 7 years ago

"Today more than one million secular Turks have protested in Istanbul against the government amid a tense stand-off between the Islamic-led government and the army over presidential elections.

The crowd, carrying Turkish flags, filled Istanbul's Caglayan Square, on Sunday, in a demonstration organised by about 600 non-governmental organisations.
Police at the scene said that the number of demonstrators, from Turkey and abroad, was well over one million.

"Turkey is secular and will remain secular," protesters shouted, demanding the resignation of the government headed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister.

Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillps met many women at the rally who said they fear that their way of life, what they call a modern way of life, is under threat by the possible spread of "political Islam".

The rally came a day after Erdogan's government rejected a warning from the military over the country's disputed presidential election, calling its interference unacceptable.

Abdullah Gul, Turkey's foreign minister and election candidate for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said on Sunday he would not withdraw his candidacy after he failed to win a first-round victory in a parliamentary vote on Friday.

"It is out of the question for me to withdraw my candidacy in any way," he said.

Although Gul is the sole candidate in the election, he missed out on election in Friday's vote due to a boycott by opposition groups who object to Gul's alleged Islamist past.

The result of the vote prompted a military statement that some interpreted as a robust defence of Turkey's secular character.

Gul said his decision to run for the presidency was "taken in a night" but the result of lengthy negotiations.

Court appeal:

The main opposition Republican People's Party has asked the constitutional court to cancel Friday's vote, arguing that the session of parliament was inquorate.

If the court agrees, general elections set for November 4 could be brought forward.

If not, Gul could be president in a third round vote on May 9, when he needs only an absolute majority in the AKP-dominated parliament.

The prospect of Gul as president has alarmed secularists who suspect the AKP of having a secret Islamist agenda.

The ruling party argues that it is now committed to secular principles.

Sunday's protest comes after 300,000 pro-secular Turks demonstrated in Ankara two weeks ago, and highlights widening divisions between Turkey's secular and Islamic camps."

From Al-Jazeera (29/4/2007)