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(Am Not Ashamed) The BBC is reporting that women in Turkey have taken to the streets to protest the brutal killing of a woman who resisted rape from a transport driver.  She was beaten, stabbed and apparently burned, as the report states “they found her burnt body.”

President Erdogan made a statement about women.  Last November he said that women aren’t equal because their status is different.  Really?  Their status is different in Islam, they are to be subservient, covered, and enslaved.  Here is a quote from BBC from one of the women protesting:  “It is the result of the radical Islamic atmosphere created by the government. The men say that women should be conservative. They think if they are not conservative, they deserve this kind of violence.”   

This is not the first we have heard of the radical Islamic atmosphere created by the government of Turkey.   In 2012 it was reported that Erdogans government was feverishly trying to replace secular views with Islamic views.   He is quoted as saying that there was a need to “breed a religious and conservative generation in Turkey.”   It sparked quite the debate as he was trying to become a part of the EU at the time.  They have radically changed their school systems to include religion.  This they say will groom them at an early age, especially girls.  It drew condemnation since Turkey was established as a secular state and Erdogan’s views could not only damage Turkey’s secular roots but it’s chances of joining the EU.  Negotiations with the EU began in 2005 which they said could take up to a decade to complete.  It will be interesting to watch since that decade is here with 2015.  And it doesn’t look like Turkey has taken steps to solidify it’s stance or improve chances.  Turkey still won’t acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Some facts about Turkey:

• After the Ottoman Empire’s collapse following World War I, Turkish revolutionaries led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emerged victorious in the Turkish War of Independence, establishing the modern Turkish Republic as it exists today.
• Atatürk,  implemented a series of reforms, including secularisation and industrialisation, intended to “Europeanise” or Westernise the country.
• Turkey became a member of the Council of Europe in 1949
• Became a member of NATO in 1952.  During the Cold War, Turkey allied itself with the United States and Western Europe.
• On 14 April 1987, Turkey submitted its application for formal membership into the European Economic Community. The European Commission responded in December 1989 by confirming Ankara’s eventual membership but also by deferring the matter to more favourable times.
• Turkey’s accession talks have since been stalled by a number of domestic and external problems.
• Angela Merkel, an opponent of Turkish entry into the EU, has described herself as “shocked” after Ankara’s use of overwhelming police force against mostly peaceful demonstrators. (2013 crackdown on protestors in  Taksim Square) Watch here.

Originally a church, later a mosque, and now a museum, the 6th century Hagia Sophia (537) built by Justinian

It has been said that Turkey will not allow traditional Muslim dress for women, and it has, it’s been said that they promote freedom of religion. Turkey has women in Parliament, and they had their first female Prime Minister.  But behind the scenes women are far from equal.

Some Women in Turkey wear headscarves

Turkey at the least bears watching.  Especially as Erdogan is so frequently condemning the West.

Credit to BBC, Al- Monitor, and Wikipedia

Categories: Commentary by CJ, islamists, Middle East Crises, new world order, News Of The Day Heartbreaking & Prophetic, persecution of children in the middle east, Persecution of women in the middle east

Tags: Islam, news, persecution of women, rape, secular, Sharia, Turkey, womens rights