BY MEHMET ALI BIRAND
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS & ECONOMIC REVIEW- We will evaluate 2009 from different angles but one of the most meaningful developments we might say was the referendum on minarets in Switzerland. Switzerland is a country of 7.6 million people living well in the heart of Europe. Their only concern is their suspicion and fear to lose this obtained comfort and environment. They are a very calm and nice people welcoming foreigners with open arms as long as they bring currency. This society is the least bothered by the 400,000 Muslims. With a total of four mosques with minarets, we might say the Swiss almost have no contact with Islam in their everyday lives. Despite that fact, when examining the decision about prohibiting minarets a European reality surfaced. Pandora's Box opened and demons spread all over. The referendum of this tiny country has touched on such a nerve that since then the fight over this issue has not stopped but instead spread all over.
Europe these days is discussing its identity and questioning itself. Europe that used to be a champion of tolerance and defended human rights for such a long time has all of a sudden become intolerant and even discriminatory, opposing coexistence and perceiving Islam as a threat. Twenty million Muslims living among the 500 million people in the European Union have been labeled as "a disturbing factor." The question in discussion is, "Will we be able to accept the Islam among us?" And if this question is a little too exaggerated we might rephrase it as, "Will we accept Turkey among us?" This means that the Swiss referendum has revealed why Turkey's full membership to the EU is been prevented.
Interpretations after the Swiss referendum and especially the one started by French President Sarkozy reflects the dimensions of Europe's identity search as well as reveals the fact that they are not ready yet to live with Moslems. Although the Swiss in their everyday life live at a distance from Islam and mosques, when forbidding the minaret they were reflecting Europe's general opposition to Islam. For an important part of Europe terror and Islam share the same image. They put deeds of the Taliban in Afghanistan, suicide teams in Iraq, and events experienced in Iran in the same basket and call it typical of Muslims. Women, who are forced to wear a burka and are killed for traditional reasons, are perceived as a symbol of Islam.
The EU does not know Islam. And we can't say they are eager to learn about it. It only contents itself with TV and print media. Then it puts Muslims in a stereotype that is fanatic, intolerant, despises women. I wonder if this point of view will ever change. We'll have to pass a difficult and long period of arguing. And we need not expect a consensus anytime soon. And the most important factor that lies underneath the process of Turkey being hindered in joining the European Union is just the same. Europe views Turkey not very different from this image.
If there is no progress in the negotiations between Turkey and the EU, if an important part of topics are on hold, if other members of the EU do not oppose Sarkozy and Merkel's constant recommendation of a "Privileged Partnership" instead of full membership, the underlying reason is not Cyprus, it is the EU's view of Turkey from a religious point of view.
We might say the Swiss referendum has spoiled Turkey's dream of the EU and revealed a different reality. I wonder if this situation might change. Of course it will but it will take some time and mainly depends on the change of the international conjuncture.