Malaysia vs. Turkey
By Senerdem on Wednesday, September 26 2007, 20:13 - Permalink
Recently Turkey found itself in yet another peculiar discussion. People started to ask a weird question: “Can Turkey turn in to another Malaysia?”
Everything started with the ex-Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke’s comments about Turkey. A month ago, he described Turkey as the "Second moderate Islamist country after Malaysia”. That was enough to start a frenzy in Turkey. The whole public discussions about the EU membership and the presidential elections suddenly ceased and people started to ask each other “After all are we turning in to an Islamist country?” Most prestigious newspapers of the country started to send reporters to Malaysia in order to get more detailed information from that country. After 85 years of its establishment, Turkey still gives the impression of a country in search of its identity. Does religion play a role in the country’s governance? Where will Islam stand in this country, inside or outside of the state? The AKP government itself makes it harder to respond these questions. 
The “Malaysia” discussion is based on the headscarf issue again. In Turkey headscarf is considered as a political symbol for years. The religious groups who were in favor of the Islamist rule in the country used the headscarf card to push the secularists to the corner. The constitution prohibits the headscarf in the universities and in public sphere. So called moderate Islamist ruling party AKP probably will change that article in the new constitution that they are still working on.
Malaysia also experienced a tension between secularists and Islamists. Headscarf was a delicate issue in that country also. Last week, Hurriyet (a Turkish newspaper) wrote that, right after the Malaysian government let women with headscarves to enter the universities and to the public sphere, a huge transformation towards Islam unleashed. The main question is, Can Turkey become a similar case? My answer is no and the reason is the EU. 
As soon as the AKP government gets some negative signals from the Commission they will step back like they did before. A couple years ago they tried to prohibit the sexual intercourse before marriage by law. But the harsh reaction from the EU made them abandon that meaningless agenda. They will try to implement some religious notions to the country but EU won’t let that happen. At least I hope that they won’t let that happen because if they will, the Turkish army may use this opportunity to intervene to the political process once again. It certainly won't be a coup but they will find a way to rise the tension.
Photos: Hurriyet Newspaper/ Schools in Malaysia
Comments
>>right after the Malaysian government let women with headscarves to enter the universities and to the public sphere, a huge transformation towards Islam unleashed
it seems that the paper dont know anything about Malaysia, I'm a Malaysian and from my knowledge its never been a policy to allow or disallow any muslim to wear a headscraves to enter public universities.
from my knowledge too, its not the goverment that started the islamisation, its the private sector, for example i remember its the private tv station that started using woman with headscraves as news commentator, while the goverment tv only follow suit years after that.
i guess its the people realisation of islamic value, fyi, according to the survey done on malay muslim, its was found that they regard themself as muslim first and malay second.
Dear Malaysian,
Your comments precisely shows how shallow this whole discussion in Turkey is. I must say I don't have any idea about Malaysian history or politics. I don't believe that an ordinary Turkish citizen can have such knowledge. That is why the Turkish media can say anything about Malaysia and people believe in their comments. Because the media is the only source that people can reach about your country. I'm really glad that you commented to that problem. In just a couple of sentences you showed how peculiar their stories are.
Hi, Senerdem,
I recently found out about this new through a Turkish friend. I was utterly shocked the first time when I heard it. I do think it's unfair to spread such news about Malaysia based on so little resources and lack of investigation. I am from Malaysia and Muslim women are not obliged to wear the head scarf. It is a matter of personal choice. I am a little upset that the media has made such a bad impression of my country. I hope that not all Turkish people would fall for this news and at least make some initiative to do some research before believing it entirely. Thanks for the article, by the way.
When Malaysia obtained independence from the British in 1957...Malaysia should be a secular country, with Islam as the Official religion and the king should be the head of state in accordance to British Constitutional Monarchy.
Malaysia should be just like UK.
When Dr. Mahathir became the Prime Minister he was the first premier to declare Malaysia as an Islamic nation.
Due to Islamisation by the missionaries in 1980s, the Muslim women started wearing the hijab from 1% the 1970s to 90%+ today.
The Nationalists believe that Malaysia is an Islamic country.
The Islamists believe that Malaysia is not an Islamic country.
The Social Democrats (DAP) want Malaysia to be a secular country.