Journalist reveals MGK decision to fight against all religious groups

[bananas]

Source: Today's Zaman

In a statement that came as a confession, a reporter from the pro-government Sabah daily said a decision was made at the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Thursday to wage an effective war against all religious groups in the country.

<snip>

The Hizmet movement promotes interfaith dialogue and the resolution of problems through peaceful methods all over the world. However, Erdoğan and his former party, the AK Party, have been at odds with Hizmet, especially since Dec. 17, 2013, when a major government graft operation implicating senior government members became public. Erdoğan claims the operation was orchestrated by the Hizmet movement with the motive of overthrowing the AK Party government. Erdoğan has not provided any evidence to prove his claim, and the movement denies the accusation.

<snip>

In the meantime, leader of Workers' Party (İP) Doğu Perinçek, who spoke at an event organized by his party in Balıkesir province, said there will be extensive mobilization to make people aware of the need for the eradication of religious communities in the society.

When he was released from prison early this year after serving for some time for being a member of Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network that has alleged links within the state and is suspected of plotting to topple the government, Perinçek said he would collaborate with Erdoğan for the eradication of religious communities, the Hizmet movement in particular.

<snip>

In another development, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Masum Türker told Today's Zaman that the lengthy MGK meeting indicates that national security is about to fail.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_journalist-reveals-mgk-decision-to-fight-against-all-religious-groups_363302.html

[Stuart G]

1. What country is this..?

I read all these paragraphs, no mention of a country. ??

[bemildred]

2. Turkey. nt

[happyslug]

3. What is this about?

Last edited Mon Nov 3, 2014, 11:40 PM - Edit history (1)

The Article mentions the Worker's Party of Turkey, a party that get .5% of the votes in Turkey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers'_Party_(Turkey)

This party is the one cited for "eradication of religious communities in the society".

It also mentions the Democratic Left Party of Turkey, which gets 10-20% of the votes in elections:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Left_Party_(Turkey)

The main opposition party to the Ruling AK Party, the Republican People's Party is not mentioned, but unlike the Democratic Party of the left, the Republican People's party has seen its vote increase over the last few years 25% in 2011, compared to the Democratic Left Party of only 14% in 2011.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_People%27s_Party_(Turkey)

While the leader of the AK party is mentioned, the AK (Justice and Development Party) is NOT. AK holds the majority in the Turkish parliament AND the majority of local governments in Turkey

Although the party is described as an Islamist party in some media, party officials reject those claims. According to former minister Hüseyin Çelik, "In the Western press, when the AK Party administration – the ruling party of the Turkish Republic – is being named, unfortunately most of the time 'Islamic,' 'Islamist,' 'mildly Islamist,' 'Islamic-oriented,' 'Islamic-based' or 'with an Islamic agenda,' and similar language is being used. These characterizations do not reflect the truth, and they sadden us." Çelik added, "The AK Party is a conservative democratic party. The AK Party's conservatism is limited to moral and social issues." Also in a separate speech made in 2005, Prime Minister Erdoğan stated, "We are not an Islamic party, and we also refuse labels such as Muslim-democrat." Erdoğan went on to say that the AK Party's agenda is limited to "conservative democracy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_and_Development_Party_(Turkey)

So we have a report from a minority party that they support a ban on all religious organizations. Then we have a report of the main opposition to the present government speculating about a dissolution of the present government.

Furthermore, the present Ruling Party, the AK (Justice and Development Party) is considered a "Religious" party by the West AND the opposition, so why would they support an attack on "Religious Organization" that could extent to themselves? I suspect this is something the opposition would like to do, but can't, for the present government wants nothing to do with this. This is anti-AK propaganda NOT a REAL plan to ban religious organization in Turkey.