Turkish politics secularism vs religion

[Dylith]

Turkey's constitutional court is hearing evidence from the country's chief prosecutor in a case which calls for the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) to be outlawed for violating the principle of secularism enshrined in the constitution.
The AKP rejects the charges, saying that the case was politically motivated.

Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the prosecutor, appeared before the judges in a closed session on Tuesday to present his arguments as to why the AKP should be outlawed,.
A defence team representing AKP is set to address the 11-judge tribunal on Thursday behind closed doors.
After the hearings stage, a court-appointed rapporteur will prepare a non-binding report on what verdict the judges should give.
The court will then set a date to debate the case behind closed doors and reach a verdict.

Al Jazeera English - Europe - Turkey court hears AKP case

I'm not sure if you guys remember the head scarf ban that was causing the citizen uproar in Turkey several months ago, but the AKP stopped the ban and this act along with some other religious tinged politics has lead the very secular military and judicial system of Turkey as well as secular political parties to call for the banning of the AKP (the current majority party) from the next elections.

I am happy to see that Turkey is taking strides towards becoming a more progressive society, but I feel that this is going too far. This current administration was voted into power by the people through democratic elections and recent polls show that a majority of Turkish citizens do not wish to see the AKP banned from the next elections.

I think that in trying to westernize and secularize that Turkey is leaving behind a bit of its culture and that the elite is distancing itself from the view of the general population. I personally saw no need for the head scarf ban in the first place and actually thought of it as a bad law to inact as it represses freedom of expression and forces women to break the laws of their religion. (though a fatwa was issued from Egypt allowing the girls to take them off in this circumstance).

This is not the first time that this has happened either, other parties have been banned in the past for being to religious in nature and I believe that the AKP itself has been banned before under a different name and with different leaders (more than once if I remember correctly).

I like the idea of a Turkey that developes better relations with Europe and the west but I disapprove at the measures that the military and the judiciary are taking to make Turkey more "western."

Why can't Turkey retain its Muslim identity and join in closer ties to Europe?

[Smull]

Originally Posted by Dylith

Why can't Turkey retain its Muslim identity and join in closer ties to Europe?

Too many Coups
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