THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

2HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGANPrime Minister of the Republic of TurkeySince 2003, Erdogan has been the Prime Minister ofone of the most populous and economically developedMuslim-majority countries in the world. AlthoughTurkey has been run according to the ideals of secularismsince the end of the Ottoman Empire, the populaceis predominantly religious, and primarily Muslim.Erdogan is also the chairman of the ruling AK Party(Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, the Justice and DevelopmentParty) though he has announced this year theconcession of his parliamentary seat in 2015. The AKCountry: TurkeyDate of Birth: 26 February 1954Source of Influence: PoliticalInfluence: Leads governmentof 77.4 million Turkish citizensSchool of Thought: TraditionalSunniRank: 2010:2 · 2009:5 Party’s official ideology is ‘conservative democracy’; an attempt to create a Muslim democracyin an aggressively secular country.A Popular ReformistThe political power that Erdogan now has is in part due to the AK Party’s ability to institutepolitical reforms; both to produce major economic growth and also to enfranchise religiousMuslim voters. Erdogan has recently called for more transparency in military operations byabolishing The Protocol on Cooperation for Security and Public Order (EMASYA), whichwas enacted in 1997.Despite his party’s Islamic orientation, Erdogan has put increased emphasis on Turkey’s accessionto the EU—both in Ankara and Brussels. In fact, the stress on EU accession is partiallydue to his party’s Islamic orientation, as accession to the EU requires further religiousfreedom reforms that are sought by Turkey’s Muslim population. Erdogan is also leadinggroundbreaking initiatives to ensure the rights of Turkey’s Kurdish population, and its religiousminorities—most recently calling for the establishment of an independent anti-discriminationcommission, and the launch of a state-run Kurdish language television channel.A MediatorErdogan insists on a role for Turkey as a mediator and bridge between cultures and civilizations.The Alliance of Civilizations initiative of the United Nations—that Erdogan establishedwith the Spanish president, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero—has become a key forumfor international, intercultural, and interreligious dialogue and cooperation.Outspoken on GazaErdogan is hailed for his strong opposition toward the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Heis noted for his high-profile snub of Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World EconomicForum in Davos in 2009, and his criticism of Israel's May 31 raid on a humanitarian flotilla,which mark his growing influence in the Muslim world.Good Neighbor PolicyErdogan has led a new approach in Turkish foreign relations through his adoption of a ‘goodneighbor policy’—in August 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to improve relations.During Erdogan’s leadership Turkey has focused on building stronger relations withall of its seven land-contiguous neighbors (especially Greece) and also all of those countriesbordering the Black Sea (an important trading hub and a geopolitically significant area).30