15 June 2007

Turkey -more complex than portrayed

My impression of the way Turkey is portrayed in the EU is of a Muslim juggernaut awaiting entry to the EU to flood 'us' with Islamist values and finish what the Ottoman empire failed to do at Vienna in 1683. So it's worth noting this and the article for future reflection as the debate unfolds. "The number of Turks who want an Islamic state fell from an already low 20% in 1999 to 9% last year. The percentage of women who cover their hair when they go into the street has also dropped, from 74% in 1999 to 64% last year. It is a reality that is easily visible, even in conservative suburbs of Istanbul like Uskudari, where mothers in headscarves can be seen strolling along with teenage daughters with black or tinted hair, uncovered and free."
The real struggle is inside Turkey, not on its borders | Guardian daily comment | Guardian Unlimited:

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