For those who are fans of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, or believe in the importance of a secular Turkey, these are dismaying remarks, as reported in AL Monitor by Pinar Tremblay:
The prominent attorney Erdal Dogan told Al-Monitor, “The Turkish state has never been able to achieve a proper functioning secularism, but never before has it been this far from secularism either. Jihadism has now been normalized in all of Turkey’s institutions.”
Dogan emphasized how government-sponsored religion can lead to discrimination and intimidation on multiple levels. “Anyone who is critical of the government is immediately labeled an enemy of the state, and this ‘one religion, one language, one nation’ ideology becomes particularly threatening to the most vulnerable groups — minors, prisoners and hospital patients,” Dogan said. Indeed, these are the groups currently being targeted through imamization.
Hatice Altinisik, chairwoman of the Alevi Bektasi Institute, told Al Monitor, “In a country where there are more mosques than schools, more imams than teachers, where science, philosophy, art, dance, theater are discouraged at the expense of religious education for minors, what should we expect? Soon, perhaps, when we need to see a doctor, we will first be required to get a permission slip from our local imam.”
The predecessor to modern Turkey was the Ottoman Empire, a devotedly Muslim state. At the time of its dissolution in World War I, it was known as the Sick Man of Europe, because it had become backward relative to the European Powers. I worry about these developments in modern day Turkey because religion rarely leads countries to enlightenment. The leaders of these religions (I include just about every cult that can be named) are concentrating on an intellectual edifice built on something no one has credibly observed; the energy of those involved dissipates on theology, on ideology, and hostility to those who might be your brothers is brokered by obscure points of intellectuality founded on nothing concrete. Rather than resolving tangible issues such as disease, local conflicts, or even global disasters, their talents and energies do little more than inspire their followers, and while the magnifying glass of religion may bring about great things, more often the navel is consulted for a while, and then it’s just off to work again.
I’ve noted that religion, upon receiving questions and criticisms rooted in the real world, excuses itself on the grounds of the fallen nature of Man, or that God approves, even if we disapprove. This is crucial as most of men’s endeavours, at least in the rational corners of the world, are subject to measurement, discussion, and, after the self-interested are oustered, correction or abolition. Sadly, this does not apply to the edifice of religion; historically, the measures that often are taken are of a bloody, repulsive nature; occasionally, adherents will simply no longer adhere, but this is not often seen. So I see Turkey slipping away from secularism, I see a religion taking the reins of government, and I wonder – will we see the same here? The religion’s name doesn’t matter, see the sad history of England (or this page) if you think it does. But how will it proceed? How will it end? From history, it does not augur well. The last end of the Ottoman Empire was not a good ending, only a good beginning. Will the Turks let it all slip away?
