The streets of Istanbul have been calm for a while. Apart from sporadic conflicts and the “standing men” facing the Ataturk Culture Center in Taksim Square, there have been no further violent protests. Those “standing men” want to make their voices heard by standing for hours, but it is not clear what their demands are. Some say they are demanding freedom, while others say: “Well, my friend was here so I am standing here, too.” Some say they are protesting the press and others the government. Of course in a democratic country, they have the right to any kind of non-violent protest. But I am unsure, since they are uncertain as to what they want, how successful they can be with no unity of voice and ideas. However, apart from the “standing men”, there is a reality facing Turkey in the wake of a hard, three-week test: Europe. European people are fine. They are modern. They know about art, beauty and kindness. However, it is not European people whom I have in my sights, but rather some European leaders. Some, like David Cameron, were moderate and calming, while others, like Angela Merkel said harsh things. In fact, like many of the protesters, the target of some leaders such as Merkel was Erdogan, who has recently turned the face of Turkey, which had been living like a colony of Europe, toward the Arab and Islamic world. Everything was different after that. The economic position was different, and foreign relations altered. Turkey escaped from its dependence on Europe in the economic arena and was no longer Europe's vassal. For leaders such as Merkel, a weak Turkey with the left in charge was easy prey. But now, a stronger Turkey acting in concert with the Arab world was a problem. Turkey applied to join the EU in 1963. Fifty years ago. Easy enough to say. No other country has had to wait 50 years for membership. Our application for full membership began in 2005. This was a huge success for the Erdogan government, of course. Negotiations were held. “We will discuss this again on such and such a date,” we were told, and then that date was always postponed under one pretext or other. The regional tracks phase planned for June 26, 2013, regarding Turkish membership was postponed due to vetoes from Germany and Holland. What do you think the reason for that postponement was? Of course, the events in Taksim Square. What an excellently timed pretext that turned out to be. For years, EU member countries have been saying: “Turkey does not meet the requisite criteria for EU membership.” “Criteria” is an interesting word. Let's have a look at Turkey on the basis of the EU's official criteria.
Turkey is the fastest growing economy in Europe, and the country with the world's second highest growth rate after China. It is the 16th largest economy in the world and the 6th largest in Europe. It is also an active member of the G-20, a founding member of NATO and a UN member. Turkey is a leading global investment center thanks to the lifting of bureaucratic obstacles, the improvement of the tax system, and the support for profit transfer. It has no debts to the IMF, and it has changed and amended its laws to meet European standards. Human rights always need to be improved, of course. But compared with Europe, Turkey's record is really quite good. There are more journalists in British jails than in Turkish prisons. Looking at the official criteria, Turkey would seem to be in a far better position than many European countries which are currently headed for collapse. This can be especially well understood when we compare it with Greece, an EU member. However, the unofficial criteria quietly say something different: Turkey is a Muslim country. And in point of fact, they will never let a Muslim country join the EU. The events in Taksim Square are just an excuse. The initiatives taken so far were needed in order for Europe to benefit from Turkey's growing economy, but they never contemplated admitting Turkey or any other Muslim country to full EU membership. There is one reason for this: Radicalism. This is one of the worst forms of damage inflicted on the Islamic community by radicals who burn Christian churches and whose middle name is literally terror. These people, who kill, spread anarchy and hate just about everything say: “I am doing this for my faith.” These people, who do not equate quality, art, beauty, cleanliness, modernity, science, laughter or joy, with being Muslim, say: “My faith has commanded me to do this.” What a terrible slander of Islam. Turkey is a democratic and modern country. But the fact that it is Islamic brings to people's minds the threat of extremism. One can see that in the criticisms of Erdogan. Many regard a religiously devout prime minister as a threat. They regard the suggestions he made in a harsh manner as repressive, because there is always this fear of a repressive extremism in their minds. This is where the need emerges for the Turkish prime minister to attach greater importance to an affectionate, inclusive, libertarian and modern conception. Being a democratic and modern country is not enough. So long as we still have fundamentalist Muslims, the name will persist as Islamophobia. Therefore, everything that brings fundamentalism to mind must be eliminated. No matter how much I criticize interventions by Merkel, and in the past by Sarkozy, we still need to understand Europe's fear. European countries can do nothing at this stage. The horror of radicalism is entirely our responsibility. There are things we need to do as Islamic countries if this false religion of radicalism is not to harm the Islamic or wider world. Minds expand with freedoms. We must first be able to espouse liberty and democracy, listen to all ideas with respect and feel love for everyone. Affection leads to unity. Unions formed from love are loyal in hard times and do not strike from behind. Unions formed from love stand bolt upright in the face of opportunists waiting to strike from behind. They teach the world that it is a world of love, not self-interest. If we are united, then we can more easily show these delights that counsel the love and peace of our faith. We can be a role model. Then we will not leave it up to the fundamentalists to claim to speak on our behalf. The West will then realize that its fears stem not from Islam, but more properly, from extremism. We can then overcome this fear in the world and lay the foundations of love. The world needs this. And only we Muslims can do it.
– The writer is a commentator and religious and political analyst on Turkish TV and a peace activist
