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Is Turkey a Democratic State?

Abdullah Ansari on 13, Feb 2013 | 8 Comments | in Category: Around the World

Abdullah Ansari

• Questioning Democracy
• ‘D’ for Democracy or Dictatorship
• Why are they Turning Citizens into Rebels?






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“With elections up-next, Islamic political parties in Pakistan are also trying to get attention of the people of Pakistan by chanting slogans of ‘Islamic Democracy’, the idea which has never been able to take roots in the masses. Govt. of Justice and Development Party in Egypt, led by Tayyab Erdogen is often presented as a role model by these Islamic democratic parties in Pakistan. These parties believe and promote that Justice and Development Party (AKP) is fulfilling the job of implementing Islam as a system of life by reforming current constitution in a democratic manner. They think that AKP is perfectly putting the idea of ‘Democratic Islam’ in practice in Turkey and slowly and gradually, one day, AKP will turn Turkey into Islamic State that was formed in Madina. AKP, for them, has successfully fused Democracy and Islam and their achievement is a big boost to the call of Islamic Democracy in Pakistan.

However, a closer look at Turkey’s current constitution is more than enough to clear all the mist about implementation of Islam as a system of life in Turkey. With almost five years in office, AKP’s ‘Islamized’ Turkey is nothing but a practical joke. Under this ‘Islamist’ govt., there are around 3,000 brothels that are regulated by government. Prostitutes pay tax to this ‘Islamist’ govt. from their ‘halal’ income. Besides govt. operated brothels, there are a large number of brothels which are privately owned and also contribute to national tax with their ‘halal’ income.

Sale and consumption of Alcohol is another feature of ‘Islamic’ regime of Turkey. They have even surpassed ‘Kaafir’ USA in this matter as the legal age to purchase alcohol in Turkey is 18; this is lower than the legal drinking age in the ‘Kaafir’ USA. It seems that five years in office for ‘Islamic’ AKP are not enough for them to understand and implement Islamic laws about alcohol; after all, they are implementing Islamic laws gradually. All this bru-ha-ha about Turkey being an ‘Islamic’ state is nothing but a fairy tale.

Friendly relationship with Israel is a corner stone of foreign policy of ‘Islamic state of Turkey’. Prime Minister Tayyab Erdogan visited Israel in 2005 offering to serve as a Middle East peace mediator and looking to build up trade and military ties. Erdogan also laid a wreath at the Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem. He mentioned that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are a threat not just to Israel but to ‘the entire world’. Economic ties between ‘Islamic’ Turkey and Israel are also very healthy as Turkey is the sixth-largest export destination for Israel. Keeping the issue of Palestine in mind, calling Turkey a model Islamic state shows either lack of general knowledge or complete intellectual bankruptcy as there is no way an Islamic State can have any kind of ties with state like Israel. Romance of ‘Islamic’ AKP’s Turkey with Israel is not limited to economic treaties; these two countries also share many military treaties.

Gaza issue, that pops up after every six months or so, is surely a litmus test for any state that is labeled as ‘Islamic’. Turkey was secular and is still secular. Erdogen’s wife may use scarf but it is not enough to declare Turkey an ‘Islamic’ state although such action have been used repeatedly to confuse masses about implementation of Islam as a system of life.

For those who are fascinated by the slogans of ‘Islamic Democracy’ and looking at Turkey as a model, they need to look into details and believe me, it doesn’t require a genius to conclude that current regime of Turkey has nothing to do with Islam as a system of life

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