Ertugrul Ozkok: A September 11 for the republic?
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 18, 2006 10:07
At the time I am writing this column, all the details from the murder at the Council of State have still not emerged. The information we have so far indicates that it is the work of a fanatic who wanted to "protest" the Council of State decision on headscarves in February. But sources close to the government are also saying that there is a "nationalist" conspiracy here that might be revealed soon. There is even some information which indicates that the attacker had some links to Sedat Peker and Veli Kucuk (both nationalistic-underworld figures). But these whisperings don't have any effect on my real message today.
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Those will consciences have known about these death squads for awhile. Up until today, no one has been killed in this country for being "religious." But there have been many murdered for being "not-religious," or by people calling themselves "religious." No one in this country has been harassed, attacked or killed for "fasting during Ramazan." But in Anatolia, incidents involving attacks on people who "are not fasting during Ramazan" have become a regular event. No one hangs on anyone's collar in the country, asking "why are you praying?" But we all know that in Anatolia at least, people who don't pray regularly are looked at askance in their towns and villages. In this country, no woman or girl has been approached or harassed for wearing a turban. But the same is not the case for girls and women wearing mini-skirts. In this country, no imam has ever been killed for being an imam. But we have had, just earlier this year, a Christian priest killed for being just that, and not only that, he was killed while standing in a church.
*****
Yes, that is the picture we have before us. And up until today, no judge or prosecutor has ever been murdered on account of a decision that went against the favor of the religions factions in this country. But yesterday, 5 members of the Council of State were the victims of an attack in their offices. Is it possible to stay objective in the face of these fanatic squads we see? Can we say to ourselves, 'Well, what can we do, the country is after all 99% Muslim'? This country has a problem with religious fanaticism. This is why not one of us should ever use religious matters for political gain.
*****
Turkish justice yesterday was the victim of a very serious attack on it. If we need to label it, we could call it the "September 11 of the Turkish Republic." One of the secular regime's most basic and fundamental legs, the justice system, was hit in its very heart. This is an attack on us all. There are lessons we can all take away from this attack. It is very, very dangerous in this country to use religion in carrying out politics. It is to no one's advantage.
*****
We all have to come together on this front. Belief belongs to us all. And a secular regime is also necessary to us all. We can all see clearly how when these two areas combine, it is very harmful. Don't ask what this has to do with the turban. When religious symbols are pulled out and scratched at, it makes it all the easier for those who want to use them to achieve their own goals. No matter what the goal is in the use of these religious symbols, there is only one result: the entry of religion into the political arena. We must, in order to save ourselves from this, stop carrying out cheap politicking using religious symbols. That is the main lesson from yesterday......
*****
Those will consciences have known about these death squads for awhile. Up until today, no one has been killed in this country for being "religious." But there have been many murdered for being "not-religious," or by people calling themselves "religious." No one in this country has been harassed, attacked or killed for "fasting during Ramazan." But in Anatolia, incidents involving attacks on people who "are not fasting during Ramazan" have become a regular event. No one hangs on anyone's collar in the country, asking "why are you praying?" But we all know that in Anatolia at least, people who don't pray regularly are looked at askance in their towns and villages. In this country, no woman or girl has been approached or harassed for wearing a turban. But the same is not the case for girls and women wearing mini-skirts. In this country, no imam has ever been killed for being an imam. But we have had, just earlier this year, a Christian priest killed for being just that, and not only that, he was killed while standing in a church.
*****
Yes, that is the picture we have before us. And up until today, no judge or prosecutor has ever been murdered on account of a decision that went against the favor of the religions factions in this country. But yesterday, 5 members of the Council of State were the victims of an attack in their offices. Is it possible to stay objective in the face of these fanatic squads we see? Can we say to ourselves, 'Well, what can we do, the country is after all 99% Muslim'? This country has a problem with religious fanaticism. This is why not one of us should ever use religious matters for political gain.
*****
Turkish justice yesterday was the victim of a very serious attack on it. If we need to label it, we could call it the "September 11 of the Turkish Republic." One of the secular regime's most basic and fundamental legs, the justice system, was hit in its very heart. This is an attack on us all. There are lessons we can all take away from this attack. It is very, very dangerous in this country to use religion in carrying out politics. It is to no one's advantage.
*****
We all have to come together on this front. Belief belongs to us all. And a secular regime is also necessary to us all. We can all see clearly how when these two areas combine, it is very harmful. Don't ask what this has to do with the turban. When religious symbols are pulled out and scratched at, it makes it all the easier for those who want to use them to achieve their own goals. No matter what the goal is in the use of these religious symbols, there is only one result: the entry of religion into the political arena. We must, in order to save ourselves from this, stop carrying out cheap politicking using religious symbols. That is the main lesson from yesterday......