Sociology Talk

Pope About Town · Guest

Turkey's Gul withdraws candidacy after pressure

By Hidir Goktas and Paul de Bendern Sun May 6, 12:32 PM ET

ANKARA (Reuters) - Former Islamist Abdullah Gul withdrew his candidacy for
Turkey's presidency on Sunday after pressure from the military and
demonstrators who accuse his ruling party of subverting the nation's secular
order.

The NATO-member has seen a wave of large protests by secularists who
demanded Gul withdraw his candidacy. That was accompanied by rising alarm in
the military at the prospect of a former Islamist becoming president and
commander-in-chief.

The military, which along with the judiciary and universities make up the
core of the secular elite, has issued a public reminder it is the ultimate
defender of the secular state. The army has removed four civilian
governments in 50 years in a nation which now hopes for
European Union membership.

WORRIES OVER ARABISATION

"Many Turks are happy with the secular system and used to a lifestyle people
have had for 100 years. They are worried that an Arabisation of society may
take place," Semih Idiz, a columnist at liberal daily Milliyet, told
Reuters.

--
+

Johnny Asia, Guitarist from the Future
http://music.download.com/johnnyasia

Want to know what's really going on in Iraq?
http://www.angelfire.com/co/COMMONSENSE/wakeup.html

"I will make a bargain with the Republicans.
If they will stop telling lies about Democrats,
we will stop telling the truth about them." -

Adlai Stevenson, former Illinois Governor
and democratic presidential candidate.