Gerry’s International Relations

Separation of Church and State Divides Turkey

The possibility of a Muslim President has caused uproar in Istanbul, according to CNN.  Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul announced his candidacy for the office of President, and more than 700,000 protesters marched on the capital.  Turkey has remained secular since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk established the Secular Turkish Republic after the fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.  They firmly believe that Turkey needs to remain secular and that Gul will base his policies on Islamic Law.  Many of the protesters are calling for an early election to elect a new legislature, which elects the president.  Currently it is dominated by Gul’s pro-Islamic party.  The also fear that he will use the presidential power of veto to help Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan implement Sharia law.

Another fear is that the military will intervene.  Previously when a pro-Islamic leader was elected the government removed him from power and replaced him with a secular leader.  The military is afraid the religious leadership will hurt Turkey’s chances of joining the European Union, and therefore they may intervene.  The battle between secularists and religious supporters is not unique to Turkey, however.  Similar arguments have occurred all over the world.  I don’t believe the answer can be found by choosing one over the other, but instead a balance must be found.  This is easier said than done, however, I am not sure what will work best for Turkey.