1 / 20

Turkey: Can a Muslim Country Be Part of the European Union?

Turkey: Can a Muslim Country Be Part of the European Union?. Modern Middle East Ms. Eraqi. What factors have or will hinder Turkey’s Acceptable into the EU?. Geographically Turkey sits on two continents Europe & Asia. An Islamic Europe?. Will the European Union accept Secular Islam?

butch
Download Presentation

Turkey: Can a Muslim Country Be Part of the European Union?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Turkey:Can a Muslim Country Be Part of the European Union? Modern Middle East Ms. Eraqi

  2. What factors have or will hinder Turkey’s Acceptable into the EU? • Geographically Turkey sits on two continents • Europe & Asia

  3. An IslamicEurope? • Will the European Union accept SecularIslam? • EUstates have current immigration issues. • EU has had new waves of terrorism: Radical Islam. • Currently there are no rules for other predominantly Islamic states: • Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina

  4. Ataturk’s Vision • Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938) • Established modern-secular Turkish State (1923) • Wanted Religion to be part of private life • Turkish Law 5816 makes it illegal to publicly insult, curse, deface, or destroy the memory or images of Ataturk. • Offenders can be punished with 1-3 years in jail.

  5. Secular Law Imposed Abolished religious law Closed religious schools Replaced Islamic calendar with Christian (Gregorian) Calendar Banned the Fez in public Banned the head scarf (hijab) in universities

  6. Islam in Turkey 99% of the population in considered Muslim. Sunni 75% / Shia 24% 91% of Turks today say “We are religious people.” Imam Hatip religious schools are now popular

  7. Islamic Revival in Turkey Islamic political parties seek influence Prime Minister RecepTayyipErdogan’sJustice and Development Party (AKP) is considered an Islamic political party. Former leader of the AKP NejmettinErbakan said “Turkey is going to change its regime towards fundamentalism – the debate is whether it is going to be with blood or without.”

  8. European Concerns • Cyprus Issue: • Greek Cyprus is a member of the EU • North Cyprus under Turkish rule have refused to accept UN sponsored green line division.

  9. Muslims in Europe • 10% in France • Riots related to immigration population • Policies have alienated Muslim communities and prevented assimilation. • 25% unemployment in this community • Vast majority of Muslims are North African. • Census estimates that by 2025, 50% of Europe will be Arab.

  10. Paris Riots

  11. German Turks Turkish Guest Worker Program: Brought thousands of Turks to Germany for Work in the 1970s. Officially over 3 million today in Germany Re-unification of Germany in 1990s brought many unskilled workers from the East Germany Unemployment rates have shot up despite its strong economy.

  12. Germany’s Position • Neo-Nazi groups have targeted many Turkish workers. • New German Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken a NO position on Turkish accession. • Germany suggests a “privilege partner” status. • What does that mean?

  13. Armenian Genocide • Young Turks – A Political group in Turkey took control of Ottoman Empire in 1917. • Carried out deportation and genocide campaign against the 2 million Armenians that lived in Turkey. • Over 1.5 million Armenians killed. • Tensions still high between the two nations. • Turkey denies genocide. It is not taught. • Article 301 (Turkish Penal Code) Insulting Turkish History

  14. Kurdish Question • Kurds were promised a homeland at the end of WWI. • Never received it. Armenia created instead. • Currently about 10 million Kurds in Eastern part of Turkey. • Some have begun separatist movements to form their own country.

  15. Kurdish Question • Turkey forbids Kurdish from being spoken in schools & political settings. • Martial law is commonplace in Kurdish areas. • Thousands have been killed or arrested in clashes with Turkish Police forces

  16. Why Does USA Care About Turkey? • Geography: • Strategic importance of the Bosporus and Dardanelles • Baku-Tblisi-Cehan gas pipeline connects Casian Basin to Turkish Ports • Potential Bridge to Muslim World • Huge influence to Middle East • Member of NATO: • Strategic Weapons & Missile Location • Long-time U.S. Ally • Receives U.S. Aid • $5.6 Million (FY 2012) • $5.425 Million (FY 2011) • Resources: • Tourism, weapons, military, shipbuilding, cars, agriculture (figs, hazelnuts, cherries, apricots) steel industry.

  17. Benefits to Allowing Turkey in the EU? Bridge between Europe & Asia Trade Laborers Military location Wealth Positive image/example to Muslim world

More Related