BY ERGUN BABAHAN
SABAH- It seems that the developments in Iraq went beyond the conflict of religions and turned into a conflict between sects. Columnist Omer Celik made one of the best evaluations about Iraq. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Celik made the following warnings: ‘The Islamic world should be clearly determined to draw a line between itself and religious terrorism. It is obvious that some people want the Islamic world to experience the Middle Age, which other religions went through. They try to create an inquisition, which doesn’t exist in Islam. A group of murderers hide under the guise of religion. This is the most serious test in history for the Islamic world. A huge history and a civilization will fall into darkness if this test won’t be completed successfully.’
Turkey has a special mission at this point. The importance of secularism increases in a period where discussions about moderate Islamism are brought into the agenda over and over again. It should also be shown that in this geography, within the framework of the freedoms in the constitution, people have the freedom of religion and thought without intervening other’s spaces. People traveling through Turkey, will see that modernism reached even small towns of central Anatolia. Of course Turkey should be on alert against religious fanaticism.
Turkey, praising itself of being a bridge between the Eastern and Western civilizations, is moving forward to become a modernized Muslim country. Turkish women have the freedom which no women in other Muslim countries have. This environment doesn’t give religious terrorism the opportunity to find a base in this country. Of course there are people willing to make Turkey experience the dark period of the Middle Age, but despite its gaps, the civilization level which Turkey reached at is a proof of the republic’s strong foundations in this country. Even if Turkey’s young and dynamic population can’t find a job despite their efforts at the universities, they find the solution in a modern society instead of being overwhelmed by strayed ideologies. A similar way for our neighbors would reassure Turkey and Islam, but the experience in Iraq showed that this change couldn’t be made with US pressure from outside. This change requires patience. Turkey can have a role in this change through trade.