The Democratic Government of Religion in Turkey
AM: The Turkish elections were held based on law and order; they were transparent and were positively evaluated by a national and international audience. For the third time the Justice and Development Party won the elections, gaining about 50% of the seats, and defeated its main rival the Republican People’s Party. This victory is because people see the government practicing what it says, not attempting to abuse its power, and most importantly not lying to its own people or trying to trick them. In addition to trust, the Turkish people are satisfied with the work of the Justice and Development Party because their conduct has added to their well-being, and there has been accountability and credibility on the national, regional and international level. These are all the results of a democratic system. The reflection of democracy is always as follows: freedom, equality, and the rule of people, elections, criticism and dismissal of rulers, negation of a lifetime government, trust, satisfaction, compromise and peace.
Turkey has passed its transition to democracy and is now focusing on stabilizing it. This is a long process and is achieved gradually. If the process of democratization is not faced with obstacles, it will be able to offer an example of the rule of democratic religious people in the region, which will gradually affect the political structure of its neighboring countries.
IRD: Despite the fact that Turkey is located in a region where democratic weaknesses are relevant in the political processes; how do you think it has been able to have a better situation in terms of complying with democratic indicators?
AM: This is a good question. It is known that Turkey has an ancient background in Islamic culture and civilization, and religion is part of the individual and social lives of people. Since the second half of the 20th century, after the Turkish people went through the policies of Ataturk who was against religion, they renewed their belief in Islam. The symbol of this inclination is the rise of Najm al-din Arbakan in the 1970’s through the establishment of the National Party. The continuation of this movement is seen in the birth of the Justice and Development Party whose leader is Rajab Tayeb Erdogan. However Rajab Tayeb Erdogan is one of the disciples of Najm al-din Arbakan who can be called the father of Islamism in Turkey.
I believe that the reasons why Turkey has been able to reach democracy is the following:
1- The Turkish government observes its people with a national and unbiased approach. We know that the Justice and Development Party was able to gain 326 seats of the 550 seats in the parliament with the slogan;”We are all one nation”. With this approach people are not divided into insiders and outsiders or first- and second-class civilians. All are citizens of one country and are equal.
2- The practicality of the Turkish rulers is the outcome of the political reasonability in this country. Turkish rulers try to govern their country based on knowledge and experience. Since governing is based on law, calculation and order in the world of phenomenon, therefore the Turkish example is based on worldly issues. They particularly focus on the European Union Development Plan in their development. The experience of the European Union is vast and is one of the most outstanding ones in the history of mankind. Even though Christiani culture has penetrated it, it is considered a result of human knowledge and experience. Turkey is trying to benefit from this tangible, clear and testable experience and act according to it, while considering its own cultural, historical and geographical requirements.
3- Turkish rulers attempt to merge Islam, nationalism and modernism. We can observe the three aspects of Islamism, national integration, and human biology in the face of Turkish politics.
4- Turkish politicians take moderate steps. The philosophy of moderation starts from Aristotle in Greece and continues to the current day. Turkey has gained this golden key through getting rid of Marxist and extremist Islamist Taliban ideologies in order to open the gates of development and progress. The Turkish government is in favor of a step by step and gradual policy. A policy that Iran found in the words of Mahdi Bazargan about 30 years ago, but many refused to accept it based on anger, dogmatism and intolerance.
5- The Turkish government has provided a brilliant and successful outcome in its three decades of governance. The development indicators were all in line with progress and improvement; the rate of inflation has become a one digit number, the GDP has gone up considerably, its deficit has decreased, its exports increased (and reached 113 billion), unemployment has decreased, environmental issues have improved and all of these issues are seen in the everyday life of ordinary people. No one has heard the Turkish rulers ridiculing international indicators because they work based on knowledge and wisdom.
IRD: This election ended with the victory of the Justice and Development Party. How successful do you think this party has been in forging a relation between religion and democracy?
AM: The governing pattern in Turkey is based on independence of thought. Politicians, legislators, programmers, and executers of policies have resisted the pests of “fascination” and “hatred”. The origins of these pests are in emotions, a realm which should be far away from politics. Therefore, those who are in power and at the same time are either fascinated by or hate someone are drowned in emotions. These people cannot be called politicians and do not have the merit to rule society.
IRD: It is said that the Turkish government is an Islamist one. What does this mean?
AM: I believe that Islamism in Turkey means that a national democratic government came to power with the vote of a Muslim majority. The priority of this government is development and progress and it does not try to preach religion. This government is building cities based on law and order and is not a religious teacher. The people learn their religion by referring to religious leaders.
The members of parliament are affected by their culture, in which Islam is a major part of in their policy making. The Turkish politicians believe in metaphysics but do not involve them in their governance. The government in Turkey tries to resolve its issues by relying on wisdom rather than arms. The army is also confident of the efficiency of the government and does not need to intervene. Turkey has passed a long journey in order to reach this position in the Islamic world, Europe and the international arena. Turkey is now concerned about expanding social institutions and political-cultural pluralism.
Turkey has been able to progress in its democratic process and also deepen the religiosity of people. It has succeeded on the national, regional and international level, and is critical of Israel. It defends the rights of the Palestinians and has now turned its border into an asylum for those who have fled the brutality of Syria.
Those opposing Erdogan say that he is trying to apply changes in the Constitution in order to be able to reenter the next presidential election. However this is very improbable and if the Constitution allows for such changes then it is not a good sign for democracy in Turkey. Now that the life term presidencies of Mubarak, Ben Ali, and Abdullah Saleh have ended, why should the same thing happen in Turkey?
The last lesson to be learned is from the political literature used by Turkish politicians. They do not express their positions with profanity and insults. And even when they are taking opposing positions against Israel or Syria they do it in a polite way. This is how they show the rich culture in their country. They do not engage in palavering or go on talking in long sessions; they always limit their public speeches. Freedom and wisdom are the main fruits of democracy in the political literature.
Hope and anxiety are the two words that explain my fascination with the Islamic democrat government in Turkey while also expressing my worries about the continuation of this delicate and complicated process. I hope that religious democracy succeeds in Turkey.