Turkey is Different

Submitted by Ivan M. Lang (United States), Aug 13, 2002 at 10:56

\Mr. Pipes supports his thesis that Islam is not evil, by noting that a Turkish religious authority made a liberal ruling which was "completely contrary to Islamic custom". Pipes says that if "Turkish theologians can execute such changes, why not theologians in other countries..."

There are two major differnces between Turkey and all of the "other countries". Firstly, Turkey is a secular democracy. Ataturk was a great leader who recognized that separation of church and state is essential to freedom and prosperity. There is not a single democracy amoung the "other countries", i.e. Arab and Muslim countries of the Mid East and North Africa. Secondly, Turkey is Turkish with a different culture, history, and customs to the Muslim countries which are mostly Arab. There is also a liberal Islamic cleric in Italy, but he is derided by most Arab Muslim theologians.

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