Turkey:Turkey: Can a Can a Muslim Country Be Muslim Country Be

Part of the Part of the European Union?European Union?

Modern Middle EastModern Middle East

Ms. EraqiMs. Eraqi

What factors have or will What factors have or will hinder Turkey’s hinder Turkey’s

Acceptable into the EU?Acceptable into the EU? Geographically Turkey sits on Geographically Turkey sits on

two continentstwo continents Europe & AsiaEurope & Asia

An An IslamicIslamic Europe?Europe?

Will the Will the European UnionEuropean Union accept accept SecularSecular Islam?Islam?

EUEU states have current immigration states have current immigration issues.issues.

EUEU has had new waves of terrorism: has had new waves of terrorism: Radical Islam.Radical Islam. Currently there are no rules for other Currently there are no rules for other

predominantly predominantly Islamic Islamic states:states: Albania, Bosnia-HerzegovinaAlbania, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Ataturk’s VisionAtaturk’s Vision Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

(1881-1938)(1881-1938) Established modern-secular Established modern-secular

Turkish State (1923)Turkish State (1923) Wanted Religion to be part Wanted Religion to be part

of private lifeof private life Turkish Law 5816 makes it Turkish Law 5816 makes it

illegal to publicly insult, illegal to publicly insult, curse, deface, or destroy curse, deface, or destroy the memory or images of the memory or images of Ataturk.Ataturk. Offenders can be punished Offenders can be punished

with 1-3 years in jail.with 1-3 years in jail.

Secular Law ImposedSecular Law Imposed

Abolished religious lawAbolished religious law Closed religious schoolsClosed religious schools Replaced Islamic calendar with Replaced Islamic calendar with

Christian (Gregorian) Calendar Christian (Gregorian) Calendar Banned the Fez in publicBanned the Fez in public Banned the head scarf (hijab) in Banned the head scarf (hijab) in

universitiesuniversities

Islam in TurkeyIslam in Turkey

99% of the population in 99% of the population in considered considered MuslimMuslim..

Sunni 75% / Shia 24%Sunni 75% / Shia 24% 91% of Turks today say 91% of Turks today say “We are “We are

religious people.”religious people.” Imam HatipImam Hatip religious schools are religious schools are

now popularnow popular

Islamic Revival in TurkeyIslamic Revival in Turkey

Islamic political parties seek influenceIslamic political parties seek influence Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s

Justice and Development Party Justice and Development Party (AKP) (AKP) is is considered an Islamic political party.considered an Islamic political party.

Former leader of the AKP Nejmettin Former leader of the AKP Nejmettin Erbakan said “Erbakan said “Turkey is going to change Turkey is going to change its regime towards fundamentalism – the its regime towards fundamentalism – the debate is whether it is going to be with debate is whether it is going to be with blood or without.”blood or without.”

European ConcernsEuropean Concerns

Cyprus Issue:Cyprus Issue: Greek Cyprus Greek Cyprus is a is a

member of the member of the EUEU North Cyprus North Cyprus

under under TurkishTurkish rule have refused rule have refused to accept UN to accept UN sponsored sponsored green green line line division.division.

Muslims in EuropeMuslims in Europe

10% in 10% in FranceFrance Riots related to immigration populationRiots related to immigration population Policies have alienated Policies have alienated MuslimMuslim

communities and prevented communities and prevented assimilation.assimilation.

25% unemployment in this community25% unemployment in this community Vast majority of Vast majority of MuslimsMuslims are North are North

African.African. Census estimates that by 2025, 50% of Census estimates that by 2025, 50% of

Europe will be Arab. Europe will be Arab.

Paris RiotsParis Riots

German TurksGerman Turks

Turkish Guest Worker Program: Turkish Guest Worker Program: Brought Brought thousands of Turks to Germany for Work thousands of Turks to Germany for Work in the 1970s.in the 1970s.

Officially over 3 million today in GermanyOfficially over 3 million today in Germany Re-unificationRe-unification of Germany in 1990s of Germany in 1990s

brought many unskilled workers from the brought many unskilled workers from the East GermanyEast Germany

Unemployment rates have shot up Unemployment rates have shot up despite its strong economy.despite its strong economy.

Germany’s PositionGermany’s Position Neo-Nazi groups have targeted Neo-Nazi groups have targeted

many many Turkish workersTurkish workers.. New German Chancellor Angela New German Chancellor Angela

Merkel has taken a NO position on Merkel has taken a NO position on Turkish accessionTurkish accession.. Germany suggests a “privilege partner” Germany suggests a “privilege partner”

status.status. What does that mean?What does that mean?

Armenian GenocideArmenian Genocide Young Turks – A Political group in Turkey Young Turks – A Political group in Turkey

took control of Ottoman Empire in 1917.took control of Ottoman Empire in 1917. Carried out deportation and genocide Carried out deportation and genocide

campaign against the 2 million Armenians campaign against the 2 million Armenians that lived in Turkey.that lived in Turkey.

Over 1.5 million Armenians killed.Over 1.5 million Armenians killed. Tensions still high between the two Tensions still high between the two

nations.nations. Turkey denies genocide. It is not taught.Turkey denies genocide. It is not taught.

Article 301 (Turkish Penal Code) Insulting Article 301 (Turkish Penal Code) Insulting Turkish HistoryTurkish History

Kurdish QuestionKurdish Question Kurds were promised Kurds were promised

a homeland at the end a homeland at the end of WWI.of WWI. Never received it. Never received it.

Armenia created Armenia created instead.instead.

Currently about 10 Currently about 10 million Kurds in million Kurds in Eastern part of Turkey.Eastern part of Turkey.

Some have begun Some have begun separatist movements separatist movements to form their own to form their own country.country.

Kurdish QuestionKurdish Question

Turkey forbids Turkey forbids Kurdish from being Kurdish from being spoken in schools & spoken in schools & political settings.political settings.

Martial law is Martial law is commonplace in commonplace in Kurdish areas.Kurdish areas.

Thousands have been Thousands have been killed or arrested in killed or arrested in clashes with Turkish clashes with Turkish Police forcesPolice forces

Why Does USA Care Why Does USA Care About Turkey?About Turkey?

Geography:Geography: Strategic importance Strategic importance

of the Bosporus and of the Bosporus and DardanellesDardanelles

Baku-Tblisi-Cehan Baku-Tblisi-Cehan gas pipeline connects gas pipeline connects Casian Basin to Casian Basin to Turkish PortsTurkish Ports

Potential Bridge to Potential Bridge to Muslim WorldMuslim World Huge influence to Huge influence to

Middle EastMiddle East

Member of NATO:Member of NATO: Strategic Weapons & Strategic Weapons &

Missile LocationMissile Location Long-time U.S. AllyLong-time U.S. Ally Receives U.S. AidReceives U.S. Aid

$5.6 Million (FY 2012)$5.6 Million (FY 2012) $5.425 Million (FY $5.425 Million (FY

2011)2011)

Resources:Resources: Tourism, weapons, Tourism, weapons,

military, shipbuilding, military, shipbuilding, cars, agriculture (figs, cars, agriculture (figs, hazelnuts, cherries, hazelnuts, cherries, apricots) steel apricots) steel industry.industry.

Benefits to Allowing Benefits to Allowing Turkey in the EU?Turkey in the EU?

Bridge between Europe & AsiaBridge between Europe & Asia TradeTrade LaborersLaborers Military locationMilitary location WealthWealth Positive image/example to Positive image/example to

Muslim worldMuslim world