Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Baszn Ozeti
Turkey, at EU door, sees
conservatives gain
By Sebnem Arsu
ISTANBUL: With the European Union
acting more unsure about whether
to admit Turkey, there are signs that
conservatism is growing across the nation,
both politically and èulturally.
The prolonged road to membership,
and the many economic, legal and cultural
adjustments made to pave the way,
have soured some attitudes toward the
European Union, according to a large
recent survey of Turks.
The polI, conducted by Ali Carkoglu
and Ersin Kalaycioglu from Sabanci and
Isik universities in Istanbul, shows a decline
in support for membership, from a
high point of 74 percent in 2003 to 58
percent this year.
Face-to-face interviews with 1,846
adults in 23 cities throughout Turkey,
conducted in March and April, found a
strong religious influence. More than
60 percent of those responding said
they would refuse to let their daughters
marry non-Muslims; Also, 60 percent
blamed a lack of religious beliefs for
overall "failure in life." And 46 percent
favored schools that specialized in religious
teachings for their children over
schools with secular curriculums.
ln politics, the Justice and Development
Party, born in the ashes of fringe
religious-based parties, rode a conservative
wave and formed the first majority
government in almost 20 years, in 2002.
Since then, there has been an increase
in public displays of conservatism
around the country, notably in the number
of women wearing head scarves in
the streets. But head scarves are still
banned by the Constitution and religious
conservatives hoped that the European
Union would ask Turkey to permit
the practice in the name of religious
freedom. ln the survey, 68 percent said
they considered the ban to be religious
oppression and supported its repeal
Islamic businesses are benefiting
from the changing attitudes. Mustafa
Kar~duman, t?e ow~er of Turkey's
leadmg women s Islamlc clothing store,
uses the brand name Tekbir, which
means "the one and only" in Turkish, a
reference to God. He now has 22 stores
wi~h 78 ~ore planned in three years.
Even If we opened stores in every
city in Turkey, we would not be able to
re~pond to the growing demand," he
sald. "AlI monotheistic religions order
women to coyer up, and my dream is to
see all women in the world covered by
our designs."
Karaduman says he feels uncomfortable
watching models in makeup wearing
his clothing on Tekbir's catwalks,
but he allows the practice and even sells
OsmanOrsa e ssoclale
Although head scarves are banned by the Constitution, women and girls in
Thrkey are wearing them, often in public displays of Islamic conservatism.
bathing suits designed for covered
women as a nod toward modernity.
He said he was not a strong supporter
of Turkish membership in the European
Union and preferred trade links
with less-developed but culturally
closer partners.
"If we would only remove the customs
tax at borders, the unlimited business
with our neighbors in the Balkans
Central Asia and the Middle East would
make us earn much more than the
promised profits of EU membership"
he said
'
Political leaders emphasize the importance
of the union's treating Turkey
delicately. Foreign Minister Abdullah
GuI says Turkey can be a bridge between
neighboring cultures.
"Islam is one of the oldest religions in
Europe and had major contributions to
the European culture," he said "The fact
that Turkey is a Muslim country and has
created a European-style democracy
should be seen as a major contribution
to world and European peace."
Ali Babacan, the minister of economy
and Turkey's chief negotiator in the
membership talks, says the Islamic
world is watching how Turkey is
treated.
'~fter the Sept. 11attacks, change in
the region is inevitable," he said. "AlI
leaders in the EU have to realize this
importance of the Turkish process and
the negative consequences of what
could happen if the process is derailed
or stops."
Emre Kongar, an academic and columnist
for the daily newspaper Cumhuriyet,
accuses the government of not
truly caring about thë European Union.
"Unfortunately, the present government
is using its political power to transfer
the capita 1 from secular to religious
circles," Kongar said. "It's a real threat
to the secular democratic regime."
Others say Turks have to balance
their secular ideals and the growing
conservatism.
''When you look at the streets you see
more and more women wearing head
scarves, and more visual symbols of an
Islamic way of life, so you start thinking
that the country is shifting toward a
more Islam than secular way of life,"
Pekin Baran, the vice president of the
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Association, said.
"But we have to be careful not to
jump into easy conclusions and have to
respect and find a balance between the
religious values versus secular values,"
he said. "The miracle of this country is
that you are in principle free to choose
your way oflife, and this is not easy."
The New York TImes
){tralb;~mribunt.
July 31, 2006
59