A bit of topic, but its strange how often I come across people that oppose and condemn Turkeys goverment yet champion Egypts Sisi and arab ''non islamists''. Turkey is unique, their 'islamists' would be considered secularists in much of the muslim world.
Speaking on a popular Oprah-style talk show on Egypt's Dream TV, Mr. Erdogan had said: "Do not be wary of secularism. I hope there will be a secular state in Egypt."
The Turkish leader said secularism doesn't mean a lack of religion, but creating respect for all religions and religious freedoms for individuals.
"Secularism does not mean that people are secular. For example, I am not secular, but I am the prime minister of a secular state," said Mr. Erdogan, himself a former Islamist.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904491704576570670264116178Turkeys former president Gul, who is a cofounder of AKP
In an interview, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul says that Egypt should embrace secularism based on a 'respect for all faiths;'
Gul: What is unfortunate for the Arab and Maghreb countries is that their interpretation of secularism has been based on the French model, which is a ?Jacobin? model of imposing a kind of irreligiousness.
When you speak of secularism to Muslim communities of the region, it is misunderstood because of this French implication. In practice, the implementation of secularism in the Arab and Maghreb countries has meant fighting against Islam in the name of secularism. So, we have to understand this sensitivity.
On the other hand, if you use the Anglo-Saxon interpretation of secularism, as practiced in the United States or the United Kingdom, it is something that people should feel comfortable with. All it means is a separation of the state and religion, of the state maintaining the same distance from all religions and acting as the custodian for all beliefs. It is based on respect for all faiths and the coexistence of plural beliefs.
I can tell you from my conversations with the leaders in Egypt or Tunisia, including those with a religious identity, that they are very open-minded and comfortable with this Anglo-Saxon sense of secular government.
They understand that what we are doing in Turkey is focusing on fundamental freedoms. Freedom to practice one?s own religion is one of the most fundamental of freedoms. We are lifting the barriers, that?s all.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Global-Viewpoint/2012/0529/Interview-with-Turkey-s-Abdullah-Gul-Egypt-should-embrace-secularismGul encouraged tunisian islamists to adopt secularism. I don't think, though, that Egyptian and Tunisian islamists are secularist in Anglosaxan sense, as he does.
Im not entirely confident, as I know and am always suspicious of different types of 'islamists', but I think Turkey is different from much of the muslim world.
Topic: Turkey's Jedi Temple