Posted on 11/11/2006 11:35:49 AM PST by knighthawk
ANKARA, Turkey - The funeral of former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit turned into a protest against the Islamic-rooted government on Saturday when thousands of pro-secular mourners booed the Turkish premier at a mosque and vowed to defend the secular regime against radical Islamic influences.
Turkey is secular and will remain secular,’ thousands of people shouted when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the Kocatepe mosque for funeral prayers for Ecevit, who died at 81.
Ecevit, a much respected pro-secular political force in Turkey for almost half a century, died on Sunday after nearly six months in a coma following a stroke.
Ecevit, who served five times as Turkey’s prime minister, is best known for ordering the 1974 invasion of Cyprus, which led to the division of the Mediterranean island but made him a hero at home. His struggle for workers’ social rights also made him popular with the working class for decades.
The anti-government protests during Ecevit’s funeral underlined growing concerns about rising profile of Islam in this predominantly Muslim but officially secular country.
The crowd booed Erdogan even louder as he left the mosque. Several other government members and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc from Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party were targets of similar protests.
Since taking power in 2002, Erdogan has increased secularists’ concerns by speaking out against restrictions on wearing Islamic-style head scarves in government offices and schools and by supporting religious schools. He also tried to criminalize adultery before being forced to back down under intense European Union pressure, and some party-run municipalities have taken steps to ban alcohol.
Erdogan’s government denies it has an Islamic agenda. It has shown a commitment to joining the EU by enacting some sweeping reforms that allowed the country to start membership talks last year. But Erdogan’s administration came under strong criticism from the EU for trying journalists and writers under repressive laws curbing freedom of expression.
Many secularists in Turkey, however, are increasingly concerned that Erdogan might become president to replace staunchly secular President Ahmet Necdet Sezer when Sezer retires in May. The parliament, dominated by Erdogan’s lawmakers, will elect the new president. Erdogan would have to give up the premiership.
A former Constitutional Court judge, Sezer has vetoed a record number of laws that he ruled violated the secular constitution, and has blocked government efforts to appoint hundreds of reportedly Islamic-oriented candidates to important civil service positions.
Turkey’s strict secular laws separate religion and state. Many fear that if left unchecked, Islamic fundamentalism will lead to a theocracy like that in Iran.
Ecevit was seen as a defender of the secular regime in Turkey.
People’s Ecevit!’ the crowd chanted in affection as his flag-draped casket was placed on a gun carriage towed by soldiers.
Tens of thousands of mourners, some weeping and throwing red carnations, thronged the funeral procession.
The funeral was originally planned for Wednesday, but was moved to Saturday according to the wishes of Ecevit’s wife, Rahsan, so that workers across Turkey would be able to attend.
Thousands of workers, wearing yellow or red protective helmets, marched behind the coffin under an overcast sky.
The burial will take place later Saturday at the state cemetery. Parliament on Wednesday amended a law to allow prime ministers to be buried alongside presidents at the state cemetery in the capital.
Political leaders and foreign dignitaries attended a state funeral at the parliament.
More than 10,000 police and paramilitary police officers closed several roads to traffic for the funeral procession and flights over the capital were canceled for security reasons. Snipers were posted on balconies and rooftops.
People were seen waving from balconies or windows in tears.
Ping
Again? Is this becomming an everyday event? How close are they to 1980?
That's a good thing.
Turkey is about to be sent back to the 9th century like Saudis, Iranians, Syrians, etc.
Here is what it is gonna take.
Ataturk dragged the Turks kicking and screaming into the 20th century.
it will be sad if the changes he implemented (no veils, no fez, no more arabic alphabet) are plowed over by religious fanatics.
"Democracy is like a bus. You ride it to where you want to go, then you get off." - Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan is lying when he denies his party's Islamic agenda. Classic Al Taquiyah tactics.
I'm suspicious of any definition of democracy that Aristotle's wouldn't have been able to understand.
Meanwhile, the news blackout on the most momentous event of the past week continues...namely, the adoption of a new constitution in Kyrgyzstan.
Maybe it's not a news blackout but just indifference.
It's too bad that the 'leaders' in DC can't see Islam for what it is, and ban it from America! Please don't anyone say that "Muslims have the right to religious freedom." That won't cut it with me because Islam is NOT a religion, it's a cult. A death cult. It should be exterminated from the face of the earth. American Muslims do have the right to practice Islam, in their homeland, and that's where they ought to move to.
I like the way you think.
I dunno, I don't care, I'm just in favor of feeding Turkey to the Hungarians. At least they'd finally serve a useful purpose.
bump for later
Thanks! It's the only way we're going to survive. I like your gun. ;o) I've got a pistol grip on mine. but it's too much for me to handle like that. I'm afraid it will blow right out of my hands. LOL It's got a heck of a kick to it. I need to put a regular stock on it. The way things are looking we're going to be needing them before too much longer.
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