Posted on 11/24/2006 6:52:48 AM PST by presidio9
Two Turkish men who converted to Christianity went on trial Thursday for allegedly insulting "Turkishness," and of inciting religious hatred against Islam, the Anatolia news agency reported.
The trial opened just days before a visit to Turkey by Roman Catholic Pope Benedict, during which the pontiff was expected to discuss improved religious rights for the country's tiny Christian minority who complain of discrimination.
Hakan Tastan, 37, and Turan Topal, 46, are accused of making the insults and of inciting hate while allegedly trying to convert other Turks to Christianity.
The men were charged under Turkey's notorious Article 301, which has been used to bring charges against dozens of intellectuals - including Nobel prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk.
The law has widely been condemned for severely limiting free expression and European officials have demanded that Turkey change the law as part of its bid to join the European Union.
Prosecutors accused the two of allegedly telling possible converts that Islam was "a primitive and fabricated" religion and that Turks would remain "barbarians" as long they remained Muslims, Anatolia reported.
The prosecutors also accused them of speaking out against the country's compulsory military service, and compiling databases on possible converts.
Tastan and Topal, who could face up to nine years in prison, denied the accusations in court.
"I am a Turk, I am a Turkish citizen. I don't accept the accusations of insulting 'Turkishness,' " Anatolia quoted Tastan as telling the court. "I am a Christian, that's true. I explain the Bible ... to people who want to learn. I am innocent."
"I am a Turk, I am a Turkish citizen, it is impossible for me to insult 'Turkishness,"' echoed Topal, according to Anatolia.
If this is actually the case, then this is yet another sign that secular Turkey is descending into Islamic extremism. They are supposed to have full religious freedom there.
Are you kidding? People are openly talking about killing the Pope when he visits, and the government does nothing.
Turkey, where telling the truth is a crime.
As for your comment about people openly plotting to kill Benedict, that is recent. If you read the previous comment again, you will see that it acknowledges that Turkey is getting more Islamic. It is stating that in the past Turkey had a strong secular tradition (you could read about Ataturk and the founding of the Turkish Republic for more of that).
Yeah, thanks professor, I'll look into this Atook guy you speak of. Putting on jackets and ties a few years ago didn't change the fact that virtually all of the country's citizens are followers of Mohammed's death cult. You can't polish a turd.
I'm praying for a "people movement," a massive cultural phase-change, to happen in Turkey. The Christian Germans of the next generation or two may be worshipping in Turkish.
Be careful what you pray for. Iran had a "people movement" twenty years ago. Afganistan had one after they kicked the Russians out.
Iran had (1)a dictator who had (2)been as extremely harsh towards the Mullahs as he had been against his political opponents, (3)creating the religious-minded as publicly identifiable symbols of his repression and (4)allowing the extremists among the religious-minded to hijack a popular movement against the dictator, using it for their own agenda.
The real popular movement has itself been suppressed by the Mullahs, wherein they have finally managed to discard the semblence of any real open democratic process, by controlling who can and cannot stand for elected office. The Iranian Mullahs mode of operation from day-one has been one that follows classic Marxist-Leninist examples for hijacking the legitimate aims of the people for your own agenda. Like the Dimorats in this country, it starts with pretending to be something you are not, by hiding the full intent of your own agenda for as long as possible.
Christianity was the First Monotheistic Religion of Turkey.
MoHamHead's savage thugs imposed Mohammetanism on the hapless Turks, by the most cruel and barbaric methods.
.
It looks like Iraq currently has a couple "people movements" going on as we speak.
And 5) Operation Ajax.
Forget Turkey. You are just hyping propaganda. The place is no better than Egypt or Jordan.
These thoughts would/could make a lovely cartoon..
You know a cartoon.. Muslims HATE cartoons.. Because cartoons pictorially trump the language or even dialect barrier..
Even a moron can possible understand a cartoon.. Thats why the muslim leaders HATE them.. They get right down to the nitty gritty.. If ever a subject was made for a cartoon Islam was/is..
The ONLY way to defeat Islam is by laughter.. because it is indeed a cartoon of a religion.. Cartoons and Islam were made for each other.. Creative accurate pointed cartoons will be the end of Islam.. Even atheism is a step up for a muslim.. Islam is quite evil.. And agnostism (to a muslim) is even closer to God..
Islam will be destroyed by laughter.. thats WHY the mullahs HATE cartoons so...
And to think that The US was once actively encouraging the EU to admit Turkey into their union, are we nuts?
on trial for inciting hate- hmmm- that's a concept ripe for abuse- Yep- Turkey has come a long way toward democracy- oh wait- no they haven't. http://sacredscoop.com
Only the European Union can demand its removal as a condition for entry into the EU.
But the Secular Turks are at about 50-50 with regard to the Islamists. It is that serious. Of course, the Pentagon famously declared in the 1970's and early 80's that there was no Islamist threat and Islamists accounted for only a small percentage of the population. (It was a lie then, but the US gov't needed to believe that lie while dealing with the USSR).
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