The title above in Turkish means "What's going to become of Turkey..."
I'm extremely worried about the political future of my country. I'm not afraid of the AKP Party as many would expect me to, because I don't see them as a threat. I'm more afraid of the power of the military and the absolute secularism that we have enforced on our people, both of which enrage millions, fueling the divisions that already exist within our society.
We are all forgetting that Turkey is a majority Muslim country. The headscarf is a religious symbol, as much as the cross is, so I don't understand why we ban them but not the cross in state buildings and educational facilities. The ban simply gives anti-secularists more power and reasoning for their cause. If we were to allow the headscarf everywhere, we would destroy their logic and thus part of their recruitment strategy. Plus, if we are a secular democracy, then anyone should be able to present themselves in the manner they deem most appropriate. Banning something like a headscarf simply does not go hand in hand with democracy.
The army is not helping either. If we are supposed to be a secular democracy, then why butt in all the time. If this country will be what its citizens want it to be, then don't interfere in the political realm. Doing so again fuels the anti-secularists' debate and may even back-fire. I think the army should recede back from politics.
However, solving these two issues wouldn't help in a significant way, at least not until people can safely defend their candidacy. I read today that one of the independent candidates for Istanbul was shot dead. How does anyone, including the army, expect democracy to function when such acts still go on to threaten new blood and ideas in politics. If people are this easily and silently taken care of, I think we have a bigger threat in Turkey than the AKP Party for the secular democratic traditions of our country.
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