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çağlayan meeting!!!
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 06:16 pm |
Huge rally for Turkish secularism
The rally is being described as a huge show of force
Hundreds of thousands of people are rallying in Istanbul in support of secularism in Turkey, amid a row over a vote for the country's next president.
The protesters are concerned that the ruling party's candidate for the post remains loyal to his Islamic roots.
The candidate, Abdullah Gul, earlier said he would not quit despite growing criticism from opponents and the army.
Mr Gul failed to win election in a first round vote in parliament as opposition MPs boycotted the vote.
They are also challenging its validity in the Constitutional Court.
An army statement on Friday accused the government of tolerating radical Islam and vowed to defend secularism.
ABDULLAH GUL
1950: Born in Kayseri
1991: Elected to parliament for pro-Islamist Welfare Party
2001: One of founders of AK
2002-03: Prime minister
2003: Foreign minister, leading EU accession talks
Business leaders have also issued a statement calling on the court to annul the vote, paving the way for early elections.
The influential TUSIAD association said a vote was necessary "to preserve the inseparable principles of democracy and secularism".
Mr Gul has steered Turkey's European Union accession talks as foreign minister and is seen as less confrontational than Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development (AK) party.
"The president must be loyal to secular principles. If I am elected, I will act accordingly," he said after his nomination for the presidency.
But some analysts say he is closer to his religious roots, and his wife would be the first First Lady to wear a headscarf, a deeply divisive statement in Turkey.
'Test case'
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says secularists are concerned that if he is elected, the AK party will control the presidency, the government and parliament.
We want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey
Protesters at rally
In pictures: Istanbul rally
Sunday's "Republican Meeting", planned by dozens of non-governmental organisations, took place in Caglayan Square in Istanbul.
"Turkey is secular and will remain secular," shouted demonstrators from all over the country as they waved flags and pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.
"We want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey," they added.
Many sang nationalist songs and called for the government's resignation.
Our correspondent describes the rally as an enormous show of force. More than 300,000 people attended a similar event two weeks ago.
On Saturday, AK spokesman Cemil Cicek responded to Friday's unusually forthright army statement, saying any intervention was inconceivable in a democratic state.
The military, which led coups in the past, said it was concerned by the party's choice of presidential candidate.
History of coups
Our correspondent in Istanbul says the army statement late on Friday night caused a real stir in Turkey.
Many also believe that it is also a message to the judges in the constitutional court to declare the vote invalid and dissolve parliament, she adds.
The army has carried out three coups in the last 50 years - in 1960, 1971 and 1980 - and in 1997 it intervened to force Turkey's first Islamist Prime Minister, Necmettin Erbakan, from power.
The AK is an offshoot of Mr Erbakan's Welfare Party, which was banned in 1998.
The secularist Republican People's Party (CHP), which boycotted Friday's vote, said it would challenge the election in court because a quorum of MPs had not been obtained - a charge the AK denies.
A second round of voting is due on Wednesday and the court has said it will try to rule on the appeal before the vote.
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 06:48 pm |
What I understood from Todays Zaman story's and newspapers here is that Mr. Gül's party has enough members in parliament (350 of 550?) to change the Constitutional Law. Is that what people are afraid of?
And again, I'm not trying to get a political debate, I just want information. Maybe I see things wrongly, maybe my sources are biased? And who can inform me better than Turkish people themselves?
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 06:58 pm |
Quoting Trudy: What I understood from Todays Zaman story's and newspapers here is that Mr. Gül's party has enough members in parliament (350 of 550?) to change the Constitutional Law. Is that what people are afraid of?
And again, I'm not trying to get a political debate, I just want information. Maybe I see things wrongly, maybe my sources are biased? And who can inform me better than Turkish people themselves? |
Already the newspaper you had your news is also not a good and objective one i think. They can change Constitutional laws but not the first 4 but some attacks are made to these 4 law so people feel uncomfortable and protest,so millions of people had meeting today, people do not trust them in other words in all subjects but they continue to stay stubborn and continue to tense the people and public, people want compromise and election.
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 07:03 pm |
From what I understand, Gül has a good reputation outside Turkey (they don't portray him as religious). Even though I know he is, he doesn't come off as religious in the things he say. So why are people against him running for president?
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 07:08 pm |
Quoting azade: From what I understand, Gül has a good reputation outside Turkey (they don't portray him as religious). Even though I know he is, he doesn't come off as religious in the things he say. So why are people against him running for president? |
Yes, we know all european countries and usa love these government...What a surprise, huh? Please learn his declarations against secular Republic first...
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 07:13 pm |
Quoting armegon: Quoting azade: From what I understand, Gül has a good reputation outside Turkey (they don't portray him as religious). Even though I know he is, he doesn't come off as religious in the things he say. So why are people against him running for president? |
Yes, we know all european countries and usa love these government...What a surprise, huh? Please learn his declarations against secular Republic first... |
Europe is pounding on Turkey to be kept as secular as possible. If you could tell me about how Gül should be religious to the extent that he threathens secularism in Turkey I would appreciate it, because he has never come off as extreme in his beliefs to me.
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 07:29 pm |
Quoting armegon: Quoting Trudy: What I understood from Todays Zaman story's and newspapers here is that Mr. Gül's party has enough members in parliament (350 of 550?) to change the Constitutional Law. Is that what people are afraid of?
And again, I'm not trying to get a political debate, I just want information. Maybe I see things wrongly, maybe my sources are biased? And who can inform me better than Turkish people themselves? |
Already the newspaper you had your news is also not a good and objective one i think. They can change Constitutional laws but not the first 4 but some attacks are made to these 4 law so people feel uncomfortable and protest,so millions of people had meeting today, people do not trust them in other words in all subjects but they continue to stay stubborn and continue to tense the people and public, people want compromise and election. |
I think zaman is one of the objective newspaper in Turkey.Nobody can change constitutional laws of Turkey which were done by Ataturk...AKP is on the right way but others are against to democrasy cos these goverment were chosen by public and have to show respect.so next election is already soon,and I think AKp will get more again...it is coz of todays protesters.
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 07:31 pm |
Quoting azade: Quoting armegon: Quoting azade: From what I understand, Gül has a good reputation outside Turkey (they don't portray him as religious). Even though I know he is, he doesn't come off as religious in the things he say. So why are people against him running for president? |
Yes, we know all european countries and usa love these government...What a surprise, huh? Please learn his declarations against secular Republic first... |
Europe is pounding on Turkey to be kept as secular as possible. If you could tell me about how Gül should be religious to the extent that he threathens secularism in Turkey I would appreciate it, because he has never come off as extreme in his beliefs to me. |
i will give one example, i think that will be enough but if u want to learn more, search by yourself , u can find many declarations like this in 90's
"Secular Republic has come to an end" in Times in 1995 and also became a headline on newspaper Posta...
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 07:32 pm |
Quoting azade: From what I understand, Gül has a good reputation outside Turkey (they don't portray him as religious). Even though I know he is, he doesn't come off as religious in the things he say. So why are people against him running for president? |
I am agree with u...he is good politician.politicians outside of Turkey such as french,german politician are more religious than Turkish.
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29 Apr 2007 Sun 07:33 pm |
Quoting azade:
Europe is pounding on Turkey to be kept as secular as possible. If you could tell me about how Gül should be religious to the extent that he threathens secularism in Turkey I would appreciate it, because he has never come off as extreme in his beliefs to me. |
People are afraid of what they dont know,even if it gives them their choices back !
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