Pamuk: Islamists in Turkey more respectful to democracy than secularists

Hosted by BBC Radio 3 on Wednesday evening, Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk commented that Turkey has been witnessing a struggle between moderate Islamist politicians and the proponents of secularism for the last 10 years.

Avoiding political questions directed by the British writer Kenan Malik, Pamuk remarked: “Turkey has been dealing with the hassle between the moderate Islamist politicians, making efforts for Turkey’s adherence to the EU, and the proponents of secularism, aiming at gaining the support of the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK], for about 10 years now.” The remarks, translated into Turkish, were carried by the Anatolia news agency.

Inspired and informed by Orhan Pamuk - Telegraph

Turkey to evaluate assess EU process

by Grassroots

"Turkey to evaluate assess EU process
The New Anatolian / Ankara 14 September 2007

The process regarding Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU) will be evaluated at a meeting on September 17, scheduled to be held at the headquarters of the Secretariat General for EU Affairs."

EU meeting to be held in Ankara

Turkey's European Union (EU) accession process will be evaluated during a meeting Sept. 17 to be held at...

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul (L) shakes hands with Diyarbakir's Mayor Osman Baydemir during his visit to the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, September 14, 2007. REUTERS/Stringer (TURKEY)

MUMTAZER TURKONE: Abdullah Gül and the state's new Kurdish policy

Becoming president after days of tension and debate, Abdullah Gül began his first national tour in the Southeast. This trip sends out a very important message.

Gül’s visit to the Southeast

by MEHMET METİNER, BUGÜN

[President Abdullah] Gül’s southeast visit, starting from ,Van is an expression of moving away from a traditional-authoritarian state understanding that considers differences threatening and toward a modern democratic one which perceives variances as richness.

A good feeling!

by UMUR TALU, SABAH

Gül has done “a good thing.” The receptions, the invitations, whether or not there was alcohol, the location of his wife, who he did and did not call -- we should forget about all of this.

Gül’s southeastern visit boosts hopes in the region

President Abdullah Gül paid his first domestic visit to southeastern Turkey where he was welcomed by thousands of enthusiastic residents who formed queues to greet their new president...

Is Turkey a democratic promise, or what?

Cengiz ÇANDAR

Truth in truth

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Interview: 'We devised a draft constitution that will speak to all' (2)

by MURAT AYDIN

The European Court of Human Rights issued a decision on the headscarf. Will a constitutional provision on the headscarf issue contradict with the European court decision?

Longing for a new constitution, refusing to have one

The draft of the new constitution was unveiled earlier this week. Although there was wide consensus among different circles in society about the urgency of a new and more civilian constitution -- the current was written in 1982 following a coup -- some are still skeptical of the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) civilian constitution studies, alleging that it puts Turkey’s secular order in danger. But there are also others thinking just the opposite.

Civilian constitution can be achieved with civilian minds

Turkey is discussing drafting a civilian constitution for the first time -- or more precisely, it is trying to discuss it, while some who don’t trust themselves or the society still do their utmost to cause the process to come to naught through their “boogeyman” stories.

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In our day, Turkey is a more urbanized, extroverted, educated and industrialized society. Thus, it does not readily accept the tutelage of “statist elites” as in the past.

Not proper time for a new constitution

by ASLI AYDINTAŞBAŞ, SABAH

Disputes over the new constitution are distressing those who voted against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the July 22 elections.

Erkan's field diary

Orhan Pamuk's latest speech, Gül's Southeastern visit, the new Constitution, older news related to Turkish law, an EU meeting in Ankara...