Central Asia Muslim Countries

1. Central Asia Muslim Countries Ms. Mitchell Cultural Revolutions Andover High School

2. Table of Contents • Turkey • Afghanistan • Iraq • Iran • Saudi Arabia • Pakistan • Syria

3. Turkey

4. Stuck Between East and West

5. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk First President of the Republic of Turkey

6. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk • Rose to power after WWI. • Was a military hero at the Battle of Gallipoli—the only Ottoman victory against Allied forces • 1919 National liberation struggle • 1923 Republic of Turkey • First president of the Republic • President for 15 years, until his death in 1938

7. Religious to Secular • Ottoman Empire was a theocracy, ruled by a sultan since 1571 • Ataturk ordered the National Assembly to turn to a secular state • Moved the capital to Ankara

8. Ataturk’s Reforms • Outlawed the fez • Banned the veil • Allowed women to vote and hold office • Banned polygamy • Religion of state no longer Islam • Muslim calendar replaced by European • Latin letters replaced Arabic characters • Qur’an translated to Turkish

9. Dragging Turkey to the Modern World • Replaced Sharia (Islamic) Law with secular civil code • Converted state owned factories into private • Established a rail network • Instituted education reforms. Literacy rates rose from 20% to 90%

10. “For the people, in spite of the people” Ataturk’s Slogan

11. Continued Tensions • Kemalists (secularists) fear democracy will allow religion to rule the state again. • Islamists do not want government to overrule Muslim religion. • Turkish people feel they have to choose between their religion and their government.

12. The Veil Today • Despite the ban, there was a rise of women wearing head scarves in schools in the 1970s and 1980s. • 1984: First widespread application of the ban came into effect. • 1997: Laws interpreted to be applied to all educational institutions—not just state owned. All universities must comply. • 2000: NurayBezirgan, wore a veil during her final exams in university. Sentenced to six months in ail for “obstructing the education of others.” European Court of Human Rights has upheld the ban several times.

13. Veil, continued • Prime Minister Erdogan won a Parliamentary campaign in 2007 with the promise to end the ban. • Feb. 2008: Turkish Parliament passed an amendment to the constitution allowing women to wear the headscarf in university • June 2008: Turkish Constitutional Court overrules/annuls the amendment citing it as a violation of the founding principles of the constitution. This decision cannot be appealed. • 2010: Headscarves informally permitted. Educational institutions won’t take action against women wearing the veil but still look down upon it.

15. Turkey and the European Union • Applied for admission • In a long limbo, waiting to find out • Might be up to 10 years before the application is approved (2015) • Many perks for Turkey such as open borders, financial aid, etc. • All EU participants must unanimously vote to admit Turkey • Not looking great as of December 2011 (71% against admission)

16. Turkey and the EU Pro Cons “Too far” outside Europe Enlargement Issues—if they let Turkey in, who’s next? Austria, Germany, France • Key regional power, large economy, second largest military force of NATO • Key geographic location for access to resources • Sweden, UK

17. Afghanistan

18. Geography and People • Landlocked. Slightly smaller than Texas • Major issue facing the country is a lack of fresh, drinkable water, coupled with overgrazing and desertification. The result is little water to drink or farm and an inability to produce enough food. • Kabul = capital • 99% Muslim (80 Sunni/ 19% Shite) • 97.6% of population under age 65 • 28.1% literacy rate and schooling expectancy of 7-11 years (female/male)

19. Government & Economy • Universal suffrage at age 18 • Mixed legal system of customary, civil, and Islamic law • Democratically elected president for 5 year term, option for a second term • Pressures on the government: religious groups, tribal leaders, ethnically based groups, and the Taliban • One of the lowest living standards in the world

20. Brief History • Founded in 1747 • Won independence from Britain in 1919 • Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the Communist regime • Soviet Union withdrew in 1989 after attacks and pressures from anti-Communist mujahedin rebels • US covertly supported the mujahedin (moo-jah-deen) • Fell to the Taliban in 1996

21. Brief History, cntd. • After 2001 terrorist attacks on America, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban • Adoption of new constitution and National Assembly in 2004. Islamic Republic. • 2005—Hamid Karzai first democratically president of Afghanistan • 2009—Karzai re-elected

22. US War in Afghanistan • October 2001: Military campaign against targeted terrorist facilities and Taliban military/political assets • Operation Enduring Freedom • November 2001: Kabul fell • Many Taliban leaders fled to Pakistan • December 2001: International Security Assistance Force founded by UN Security Council to secure Kabul and surrounding areas • 2003—present: Taliban insurgents campaign against Islamic Republic and the presence of ISAF troops • May 2012—NATO approves withdrawal plan

23. US Relations • May 2012: US and Afghanistan sign Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America • 10 year partnership demonstrating US’ commitment to strengthen Afghanistan’s sovereignty, stability and prosperity • Continued cooperation to defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates • Major Non-NATO Ally • Maintaining of embassies

24. Soviet War • Coming Thursday

25. The Taliban and al-Qaeda • Coming Friday

26. Iraq

27. Iran

28. Saudi Arabia

29. Pakistan

30. Syria