Are Islam and democracy compatible really

I think Turkey is more of an Islamic equivalent of the United
States. You still have religious power and influence on the
government, and you still have religious citizens (and a few
fanatics), but it's a delicate balance because people are
sensitive. They don't want to think their government is attacking
religion.

There is a law in the US state that I live in that goes back to the 1800's. In essence one should not use profanity in public and especially in front of children. It is archaeic and old fahioned yet some poor soul was actually successfully prosecuted because of it and was fined.

There are laws in Turkey that protect the republic and some areas are not allowed without consequences. Each country has that right. I would like to see reporting in certain provinces of Turkey less restricted and open to public scrutiny. Thhis and other issues need progress. So yes, Turkey still has a way to go.

Edited by Seko

 

It's not that simple. Turkish government was not willing to allow US to invade Iraq though Turkey, just it couldn't directly reject the request, and used democtracy as a tool, as the government was aware well the result will comply with the government dicision.

Anyway, Is Turkish government willing to held a national vote towards the Turban policy? I'm pretty sure about the result.

 

Turkey, as i have said before, is a semi democracy.

it has many democratic aspects, but it also has its dictatorial aspects.

for example, the military in turkey has more say in the government than the president! the last coup was in 1996.  turkey is half democracy, half military state.

the military has a lot of say, and a lot of times it forces its own opinions on the democratically elected government.  and turks have even told me that the people in turkey believe what ever the military tells them.

Originally posted by Mira Would France do it?

France's case is totally different from that of Turkey's. Muslims there are minorities, democtratically French government can approve any harmful policies towards Muslims. So what should these people do? Simply fighting for their right (Surely in peaceful way)! Can you say they are anti-democratic? NO!

i don't think democracy is the perfect system, but at least it meets with the needs of the majoriey. I believe some policies are democtractically achieved at the sake of the minority benifits, in this case there should be some complementary systems.

I can say a policy which doesn't meet the needs of the majority as non-democratic. Can't I?

 

 

 

Kapikulu wrote: I am personally a Muslim either but I drink alcohol...It is person's freedom to do whatever he/she wants to...You can't impose it, it is their own choice..If someone drinks, it's his own choice, if not, that's another choice....

we need more muslims like you.

And How do you pray while your mind is corrupted!

with all respect , we don't need muslims like you.

Edited by HeilHim

Turkey has a long way to be considered a proper democracy.It has many problems with it's minorities,which are not represented in the Turkish parliament and in fact the only language permitted in Turkish TV ,a few years ago , was Turkish.It contuasly persecutes the Patriarchate of Constantinople,illegally capturing it's properties while allowing the Grey Wolves to blaspheme the Patriarch.It's a State "a la Turka" ,meaning that there was no chance of those assholes to reach the Patriarch in a very close distance,which happened 3 times this year, and damn him and his religion ,if the State was not secretly in favor of it.On the other hand ,the white cages for political prisoners are still there and the Army has a very strong presence.Actually ,there are many suspicions of Turkish Generals who were involved in smuggling drugs through the Army during the operations against PKK.

The whole situation saw some changes in the last years,because of it's will to enter EU.If it was not the EU,i doubt if there would be any.

I dont think shia islam and democracy cant go hand in hand... And opression is sometimes the best way to get a seculair state (ata turk was the best thing that happened to Turkey in the last age) We need the same in Iran.

Edited by shayan

what were Reza shah's plans for future Iran?

 

Islam is a religion.

Muslims are the followers of the religion.

Democracy is a style of governance.

If we look at this objectively, Islam teaches equal rights, freedom of speach, the importance of technology, knowledge and being advanced aswell as science etc etc

Its interesting as most of what Islam preache's doesn't contradict with Democracy, I mean the Welfare State, benefit's to the poor and needy, shelter to the homeless, good healthcare are actually key aspects.

I don't understand where alot of these extremely backwards people are comming from in their weird interpretations, they ignore all this and turn it into a power crazed oppressive form of governing.

If we look at history alot of the Muslim world has actually gone backwards, the governance of prior Islamic State's could infact be considered a Democracy or Semi-Democracy today.

A big misunderstanding is the notion that AtaTurk outlawed Islam and was oppressive to Muslims.

He was responsible for translating the Qur'an to Turkish so that the Turkish population could actually read and understand their religion.   He distributed Qur'an's and religous material for free.

Its actually quite amazing, his views on Islam was that it benefited society and he wanted what was actually writting to be taught.

This is the side of AtaTurk which unfortunately has not been told, it could act as a role-model in the Muslim world.

The backwards clerics who attempted to use the religion were banned and their power stripped, they rebelled and many were defeated and left Turkey and invented these stories that he was oppressing Muslims etc

He actually to my knowledge allowed the average folk to understand their religion, started up University Faculties for people to study Islam in a proper environment making sure what was taught was actually what Islam teaches etc

Well this is what a few Turks have told me, maybe somebody who understands TUrkish could translate some of the below for us it would be very interesting to know because if as is commongly thought AtaTurk actually wan't oppressive against Muslims his reforms should be studied deeply again.

http://www.bilimarastirmavakfi.org/izinde/ata3.html

p.s I have visited Turkey, I saw woman with traditional headscarves walking around freely, even headscarved and non-headscarved woman holding hands talking as friends which I found sweet and impressive as it seems the average society is quite tolerant and doesn't mind?