« November 2006 | Main | January 2007 »
December 30, 2006
Rejoice in Kurban Bayramı—It's An Abrahamic Feast
[Originally published in Turkish Daily News]
This Sunday is a special one for billions all over the world simply because it is the last day of good old 2006. At midnight, fireworks will glitter over cheerful crowds who will be singing, chanting and toasting for new hopes in the 2007th Gregorian year since the birth of Jesus Christ.
However, this Sunday also has a second meaning for the world's 1.2 billion Muslims, including over 70 million in Turkey. It is the first day of the four-day Feast of the Sacrifice, in which countless sheep and cattle will be slain in order to praise God and feed the poor. So if you see men with bloodied knives on the streets of Istanbul or Ankara, don't worry: They will be only observing a ritual that dates back 14 centuries, or — recalling the Judaic past — 4 millennia.
Continue reading "Rejoice in Kurban Bayramı—It's An Abrahamic Feast"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 8:32 PM | Comments (3)
December 22, 2006
The Turkmen Theocracy Lost Its God
[Originally published in Turkish Daily News]
Saparmurat Niyazov, or "His Excellency Turkmenbashi, President of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers" as his official title reads, was one of the few remaining icons of a 20th century political phenomenon: Cult of personality. As a man who grew up in a Soviet orphanage, and who built his political career in the Communist Party of the Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan, he was loyal to the heritage of his late comrades such as Stalin or Mao, who depicted themselves as secular gods.
"Turkmenbashi," i.e. "Head of Turkmens," had been running Turkmenistan since the fall of the Soviet Union. He continued with the Soviet style politics, and thus didn't allow any political opposition to flourish. During his 15-year reign, freedom of speech has been virtually non-existent. Any criticism of the leader has been considered treason and punishable by lengthy prison terms, imprisonment in mental institutions, or exile to camps in remote areas. Government informers have been closely monitoring the society to find out such enemies of the people, i.e. proponents of freedom.
Continue reading "The Turkmen Theocracy Lost Its God"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 12:26 PM | Comments (4)
December 19, 2006
Europe, Clash of Civilizations and the Turkish Plumber
[Originally published in Turkish Daily News]
There was a considerable article in yesterday's The Guardian. "Despite the chorus of pious hope," read its blunt title, "Turkey is not going to join the EU." Its writer, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, was making not an argument against Turkey's EU bid but simply an analysis of the prevailing attitude in the capitals of continental Europe. Despite the efforts of a handful of "soi-disant" leaders — such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair along with Finland's Prime Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt — Turkey won't be in the EU "in any foreseeable future," according to Wheatcroft.
He might be right. To argue for or against this conclusion would fall into the category of prophecy, which is not what I intend to do here. However, it's worth taking a look into the reasons for this possible disconnect between Turks and Europeans.
Continue reading "Europe, Clash of Civilizations and the Turkish Plumber"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 11:32 AM | Comments (3)
December 18, 2006
"Islamic capitalism" faces Kemalist resistance
[Orginally published in Turkish Daily News]
One of my primary school memories is of "domestic goods week." Our teachers used to order us to bring all kinds of authentic Turkish products, such as nuts, raisins and figs, to our classrooms and eat them collectively to celebrate the homegrown wonders of our motherland. "Don't ever buy foreign products," our teachers also said. "If you do so, foreigners will be exploiting us and our nation will become their slave."
That was in the early '80s, at a time when Turkey was run by a military dictatorship and still believed in the import-subsidization policies of the past two decades, which had been compatible with the economic wisdom of the times. Then came the Turgut Özal years (1983-93) during which Turkey opened its borders to foreign goods and capital and started to build a real market economy. Along with his good friends Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister (and later President) Özal was a revolutionary leader who argued that free markets are the only path to economic prosperity. His motto was "the three freedoms" — of ideas, worship and entrepreneurship.
Continue reading ""Islamic capitalism" faces Kemalist resistance"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 1:11 PM | Comments (1)
December 15, 2006
Christmas Wars—Even In Turkey
[Originally published in Turkish Daily News]
A couple of decades ago, few Westerners could predict that Christmas would become a bone of contention in their societies. The birth of Christ, which marks the apex of human history according to Western tradition, was taken as granted as tidings of comfort and joy.
Things have changed, however, and now Christmas is losing its meaning in the West. This year nearly 99 percent of Christmas cards sold in Great Britain contain no religious message or imagery. And the Britons are no exception. Other Western nations have the tendency to see Dec. 25 not in terms of Christ and Mary but of vacation and "fun." Christmas, due to excessive secularization on one hand and political correctness on the other, is not so Christ-mass anymore.
Continue reading "Christmas Wars—Even In Turkey"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 11:34 AM | Comments (5)
December 13, 2006
Holocaust Denial Won't Help Iran—or Palestine
[Originally published in Turkish Daily News]
Iranian leaders apparently think that they are doing their nation a favor nowadays by hosting anti-Semitic ideologues such as David Duke, the leader of Ku Klux Klan, for a conference which challenges the truth of the Jewish Holocaust. Are they right?
First, one should recall what Holocaust denial, or as its proponents call it, "Holocaust Revisionism," is. It is a fringe movement that started in the 60's by the French historian Paul Rassinier's "The Drama Of The European Jews" and American historian David Hoggan's "The Myth of the Six Million." In the 70's a few other historians like Arthur Butz, David Irving and Robert Faurisson joined the line. In 1979 the Institute for Historical Review (IHR) was founded in California, which became, and still acts as, the headquarters of the "revisionist" movement.
Continue reading "Holocaust Denial Won't Help Iran—or Palestine"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 2:37 PM | Comments (4)
December 12, 2006
Turkey Into EU? Yes, If You Think Big
[Originally published in Washington Post's Post Global]
Yes, Turkey should join the European Union. And for those who think globally, it is not hard to see why: Turkey's entry into the EU will be the testimony to the idea that West and Islam can live and even work together. It won't just transform Europe and Turkey; it will also create new hopes in the Middle East. "If Turkey did it," other Muslims will ask about modernization and democratization, "why not us."
It is true that Turkey must change to fully join the EU, as Mr. Konstandaras argues, but Turkey is already changing — towards liberalism, of course — thanks to the EU process itself. If the process is cut, Turkey will again change dramatically, but towards a direction none of us will be pleased with. The anti-EU forces in Turkey are also the enemies of freedom; the death of the EU process will bring about their triumph and thus the defeat of liberty.
Continue reading "Turkey Into EU? Yes, If You Think Big"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 12:46 PM | Comments (1)
December 10, 2006
Inside Pamuk's Room
[Orginally published in Turkish Daily News]
In his outstanding Nobel Lecture, titled "My Father's Suitcase," laureate Orhan Pamuk reminded us of "that lovely Turkish saying, to dig a well with a needle" to describe what writing is. It might not be the case for all writers, but the phrase is a perfect match for ones like Pamuk. He owes his success not only to his outstanding skills and creativity, but also to his hard work. Literary critic Yildiz Ecevit, who penned "The Orhan Pamuk Reader" (in Turkish), emphasizes that. "He can work for months without interruption in his room," Ecevit notes. "This has a great deal to do with his success."
Shutting one's self in a room to work diligently is a theme that appeared consistently in Pamuk's Nobel Lecture. He used the term "room" 18 times in his 6,000-word speech. He is known to read a lot — a whole lot. Most of his novels reflect the depth of the research he has done on the topic he is writing about. History, especially Ottoman history, is his area of expertise.
Continue reading "Inside Pamuk's Room"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
December 7, 2006
The Pope on Turkey, Secularism and Islam
[Orginally published in Turkish Daily News]
Much has been said about the visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey. Yet the most important comment of all would, of course, come from His Holiness himself. And it did. After going back home, he, "as is now the custom after each apostolic visit," reviewed his trip in an address given at Rome on Dec. 6.
Overall the address was a concise review of what he has done in the four-day trip. However, the pontiff used delicate language that included some important messages about Turkey, secularism and Islam as well.
Continue reading "The Pope on Turkey, Secularism and Islam"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 5:56 PM | Comments (0)
December 5, 2006
The Sultan Ahmet Moment & Thereafter
[Originally published in Turkish Daily News]
Father Richard John Neuhaus, a prominent intellectual in American Catholicism, speaks of "the Regensburg moment" in his prestigious monthly magazine on religion and public life, First Things. According to Father Neuhaus, the Regensburg address that Pope Benedict XVI gave in September touched on crucial issues relating to faith, reason and, yes, Islam, which would be referred to as a milestone "five or 20 years from now."
This is probably true, but the Holy Father seems to be too prolific a figure to be remembered mainly for Regensburg. Only two months after that, with his recent trip to Turkey, he took yet another important step with his cordial dialogue with the Muslim authorities in this country and his highly symbolic prayer at the magnificent Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Five or 20 years from now, commentators might also speak about a "Sultan Ahmet moment."
Continue reading "The Sultan Ahmet Moment & Thereafter"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 3:05 PM | Comments (0)
December 4, 2006
Pope Won Hearts and Minds
[Originally published in The Washington Times]
Many commentators, Turks and non-Turks, were worried about the last week's visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey. His comments about Islam at the now-famous Regensburg address had alienated Muslims all around the world and now he was to visit a predominantly Muslim nation led by a conservative government. Wasn't this dangerous and likely to make matters worse?
Well, it did not turn out that way. To the contrary, the visit has been remarkably constructive. Although the Holy Father came to Turkey mainly to meet the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, he has been able to build important bridges with Muslims.
Continue reading "Pope Won Hearts and Minds"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 1:51 PM | Comments (2)
Religious Freedom in Turkey: My Comments to VOA
In her news story, "Will Pope's Call for Greater Religious Freedom Be Heard in Secular Turkey?", Sonja Pace of the Voice of America refers to my comments about the limits of the freedom of Turkey's religious communities. Here is the full story, along with an audio file, and here is the part in which Mrs. Pace reported my views, quite accurately:
Continue reading "Religious Freedom in Turkey: My Comments to VOA"
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 12:02 PM | Comments (1)
December 2, 2006
Debating "The Pope & Islam" with Islamophobes
A few weeks ago, Frontpage magazine invited me to join a symposium on "The Pope and Islam," and I accepted the offer. Only after the beginning of the discussion, I figured out that Serge Trifkovic, a die-hard Islamophobe, was among the panelists. Anyway, the discussion started with Pope Benedict's comments on Islam at his Regensburg address and extended to many other points about the history of the Islamic civilization, some of which are deliberately distorted by the proponents of the new McCarthyism, i.e. Islamophobia.
If you are interested, the full text of this symposium is available here.
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 3:01 PM | Comments (8)
