[Mortimer Snavely]

The Supreme Radio and Television Board (RTUK), sanctions broadcast outlets and suspends television and radio stations for airing what they consider violent, sensational, or politically controversial programming.

Broadcast authorities interpreted John 3:18, which reads that "whoever does not believe stands condemned," as suggesting that Christians were above the law, and so, shut down Ankara's Radio Shema.

The decison is being appealed.

Publicly advocating religion is, to say the least, extremely déclassé in Turkey. The Turkish Army and Kemalist ideologues watch religious activity like hawks.

In February 1997, the military released a list of some hundred corporations with which it would have no dealings in the future and which were investigated as financial supporters of Islamic movements. These corporations, include the Ülker food processing giant, the IHLAS holding corporation, and the thirty-six-company Kombassan cooperative. The army listed 19 newspapers, 20 national television stations, 51 radio stations, 110 magazines, and 1,200 student fraternities as engaging in "subversive Islamic activities."

Evangelical Christian missionaries are allowed in Turkey, as long as ther behavior is kept private and so, outside the realm of the State.

Ataturk considered religion the main culprit in maintainingTurkey's backwardness. Kemalist ideology still reflects this. Religious censorship is not directed at Christians per se but is applied to all religious activity with a rather broad stroke. Given Islam's historical impact on Turkey and the rest of the world, I rather tend to agree with them.

Yes, BTW, I am irritated that Radio Shema was closed down, but to interpret this as the nefarious deed of an Islamic government against heathen elements is quite frankly stupid.

[wtc911]

In your own words you agree with turkey's suppression of Christianity. You want us to believe that the turks take the same actions against islam (shutting media outlets, closing houses of worship) as it does against Christianity. That's more of your turk-apologist nonsense and you know it.

I will repeat my feelings to you for the last time. I do not trust turkey as an ally. The modern turkish history is replete with irrefutable examples of duplicity and last minute flip flops (turkey's dealings with Hitler are well documented as is its reversal in 1945 as a way of getting access to the nascient UN). If my government decides to up the ante and offer more to turkey than its other suitors (FR/DEU) then it only shows that turkey can be bought.

If the world where a global street turkey would be standing in a mini-skirt at the corner leaning against a lamp post.

Have a nice day.