An Inside Look at Muslim Turkey; is Turkey Right for the Eu?

From the European Heritage Librarybeer refuse to do so as Muhammad demanded.
From these conclusions, the liberal goals the European
This is an inside look at the current cultural, ethnic,Union has embraced as imported by the post-war
historical, religious, historical, social, and linguisticvictorious powers of tolerance, freedom, complete
dimensions of Turkey. It also analyses the issue ofsocial and political secularism, and social rights are
Islam in Europe as well as their controversial entry intorejected in every sense of the word in the possible
the EU. Is Turkey by any means European? Do theTurkish membership and merger with its former victims
Turks have any right to merge with Europe as the USof its Jihad. Turkey and the Turks are by no means
and EU encourage? Click the link at the bottom andEuropean - culturally, ethnically, politically, historically, and
top of this article to view the photos that go with thissocially - and thus have no right to merge with Europe.
article.This reality by no means denigrates the Turks nor their
Turkey --proud and glorious Islamic nation.
English name: TurkeyThe Turkish national founding father, Mustafa Kamal
Population: 71,158,647Atatürk (Father of the Turks) is virtually
Religion: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2%mythologized in Turkish life. Having brought the Turkish
Language: Turkish, with near-illegal Kurdish minority,Ottoman state from complete economic and political
Armeniancollapse into a powerful and proud new Turkish nation
Ethnic groups: Turkish 80%, 20% Kurdish, minuteand military power that conquered its neighbors in less
Armenianthan two years (and successfully assaulted the new
Average fertility/woman: 1.89 per womanGreece to return "lost" land), this culture-creating leader
Migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population [none leave,is celebrated with a portrait in nearly every major
none enter]building, every office building, every police station and
Per capita average income: $9,000shack, in every public monument, and in hundreds of
Unemployment: officially 10.2%homes and ships. He acts today as a paradigm for all
Population below poverty line: officially 20%future politics of Turkey, which is why current efforts
Extant populations elsewhere of Albanians: Germany,to Islamicize politically-secular Turkey is met with a
Bulgaria, Greece, Francesizable public outcry. Aside his portraits and statues
Source: CIA World Factbookare dozens of flags, some stretching 20-feet in length,
I went to Turkey not only with a great fascination forto celebrate independence Turkish nationhood and
Islam, but also to investigate first hand the question: areIslam. Many of his statues are adorned with Arabic
Turkey and the Turks by any means Europeanscript and quotes from al-Qur'an that he today in the
culturally, ethnically, religiously, politically, and historically,West is perceived to have assaulted. Turkey and
and do they have any right to merge with Europe asIslam are indivisible, though the Turks have been
the United States & European Union so staunchlysmartly able to avoid the theocracy of Khomeini or bin
debate and often encourage today? In Germany andLaden. This ulterior political goal must be recognized.
Europe to which they (rarely illegally) emigrate forThe Turkish and Muslim traditions other than in the
better labor opportunities and government socialmosques is subsidized by the state to protect it from
monetary benefits, they are generally hated andthe "Western imperialists" who are encroaching on
deemed completely diametrically polar to Europeantheir Islamic and homogeneous heritage. The traditional
culture, history, and modern politics. The nation ofand world-famous rug/carpet-producing techniques are
Turkey is often deemed a backwards Islamic nation ofpaid for by the boards of culture and economics. Here,
goat herders, an unstable government, and thethe exclusive double-knot Turkish carpet-making
wickedly poor. Is this image by any means true, and iftradition requires female members of families to
not, does this then imply that they have any right toproduce carpets for years and years at a time by
integrate with the Europeans whom reject them?hand from the ilk of silk worms for sale around the
Turkey is relatively new to tourism due largely to aworld. This is but one of the cultural measures
popular stigma of Westerners that the Middle East orprotected by the Turkish government today. The
the Islamic world are dangerous or volatile. Our cruiseTurkmen minority (a people related to the Turks by
ship landed in Istanbul and Kusadasi, two distinctlyrace, history, and the same Sunni Islam) dominate this
Islamic and Turkish cities rife with ancient ruins of otherfield. This is a great source of income for Turkey on
cultures long dead and expelled but by no meansthe world market for textile production where Iran
multicultural. The Kurdish Sunni minority is responsible(Persia) and India are their biggest competitors. The
for nearly all of Turkey's terrorism (primarily by thetraditional Muslim dowry (akin to bride-price) is generally
PKK [the Kurdssh Workers' Party] terrorist group),paid and encouraged to be paid by the man to the
which is further incited by American support for thewoman upon marriage, though the Muslim
Kurd minority in northern Iraq and Syria, another reasonnear-universality of polygamy is illegal in urban Turkey.
why Saddam Hussein has been executed forMost Turkish women still receive dowry in the form of
genocide of a very volatile minority. The majority ofmoney, carpet, or other heirloom to cement the Muslim
the Kurds are in the east. They are incited historicallymarriage.
not only because they are a different race with aRegarding the cities themselves, Muslim Turkey has
different language than the Turks (the Kurds beingmore treasures from ancient empires of the past than
Persian with a Farsi-derived language), but also largelycan be seen completely in a lifetime. Outside of
because the post-WWI Allied victors promised KurdishKusadasi, an ancient provincial capital of Greek-ruled
statehood in Kurdistan, which the Turkish foundingAnatolia (later to be annexed and expanded by the
father Atatürk completely obliterated in aRomans) called Ephesus remains the very greatest
military expansion after the war. Upon learning that theand most well-preserved city in the world. Like Pompeii,
west along the coast would be spared the majority ofa city some 5 centuries before the life of Jesus can
this ethnosocial calamity, I was anxious to experiencebe traversed in near entirety. A world monument, the
the very capital nation of the Islamic world whoseHouse of the Virgin Mary can be visited as a major
Jihad caused Europe to quake in its boots for nearly 5Christian (almost exclusively Catholic of course) site of
centuries, not only as an investigation of history, but aspilgrimage. It is proported to be the very house of
a rare chance to experience Islam first-hand. They areMary, the virgin mother of Jesus of Nazareth. Inside,
unique in their own right as a race, culture, and (in part)very little can be seen other than walls and a
history than the Arab tribes with whom they are oftencommemorative tomb with no corpse therein. A wall
affiliated (to the anger of the Turks).can be seen on the way out with endless notes from
For a brief historical walkthrough, the region of today'spilgrims to Mary and Heaven. The modern Islamic
Turkey (Anatolia) was originally populated by a varietyTurkey has its own endless treasures. Turkey is very
of peoples, the majority of whom Iranians andeconomically upright and apt for Western trade; English
Scythians before and during Zoroastrianism took rootis highly common amongst the youth and adult alike.
long before Judaism's dualist monotheism wasAlmost no English or other language is used in the
founded. After the heroic conquest of the oldcities though. There is almost no trash visible anywhere
Zoroastrian Iranian state (Persia) by the Greekon the street, and almost no graffiti at all. Oddly, there
Alexander the Great, Anatolia became populated byare literally almost no trash basins anywhere in the
Greeks. This later coalesced -- after the Romancities of Turkey. We learned that this is a security
conquest -- into the heart of the Byzantine Orthodoxmeasure imposed by the military government to stop
Empire. But by the 10th century, the many nations offrom fires as well as Kurdish terrorism (assumably,
the Turkish race (at the time in central Asia) adoptedbombs in trash cans). Soldiers with machine guns are
the Sunni faith of Islam, and, pressured by the Mongoleverywhere in Turkey, as Turkey's government is
tribes and in search of better crop yields, traveled byregulated and controlled by the huge military to a large
equine into Anatolia. Here, they encountered andextent. There are hardly any broken or collapsed
conquered the infidel Christian Greeks with every mile.houses with waste affront. The buildings are all plain
The battle of Malazirt (Manzikert) in the 11th centuryand simple. There are no blatantly poor areas like
foreshadowed a dark future for the powerful Christian"ghettos" like in America or some of the larger
Byzantine Empire. The next 3 centuries marked aEuropean cities. However, there is little safety
reality that the Turkish Muslims were superior to theprecaution unlike in the US to resist lawsuits, and it is
supreme power of the past. These Seljuksvery easy to injure oneself. The streets are largely
(Salçuk) Turks established a powerfulnarrow in the bigger Turkish cities. The drivers are
Seljuk Empire, which conquered much of then-Sunnioutright maniacs. Many drive at top speed in complete
Iran and Iraq (Mesopotamia), as well as easterntraffic without stopping, even driving on one-way
Anatolia. Annihilated by the coming Mongol hordes, thestreets through popular business areas with food carts
Turkish Muslim race re-established itself under Asman,to get to their destination more quickly. Driving is
establishing the "Ottoman" Empire in central Anatolia.impossible. Everything in the society seems
By the early 15th century, under the banner of the holyeconomically uniform and upright. However, there is a
Jihad, the Ottoman Turkish Muslims had encircled therelatively pungent and foul smell throughout much of
Byzantines by conquering their Slavic and Greekthe Turkish cities, and bathrooms are virtually
neighbors: the Greek city-states, the Byzantine land inimpassable to a European or American. Water and a
today's Greece proper, Slavic Bulgaria, Romania,thick foul smell seem to flow on the ground of every
Albania, later Bosnia, Serbia, and nearly all of southernbathroom. The toilets are generally sunken into the
Hungary, where they forced the conversion of millionsfloor or are a hole for defecation, always with a
of their subjects with death or unlivable taxation as ahorrific smell. A thick layer of water on the floor by the
penalty for not submitting to Islam. On 29 May, 1453,pungent toilets, in theory, imply that they have recently
the Turks completely stormed the Byzantine capital ofbeen cleaned and washed. There are an endless
Constantinople, which they renamed Istanbul ("Islamamount of stores on every corner with businessmen
aplenty"). By the 19th century, though, they had declinedon the streets watching for pedestrian tourists like
due to bankruptcy and internal rebellion by the varietyvultures. Some 50% of these stores are all for the
of races that they had conquered. Russia had crippledsale of rugs, totaling hundreds of thousands of carpets
their fleets in nearly a dozen Russo-Turkish Wars. Ineach hundreds of dollars in worth. Nearly every store
World War I, the Ottomans allied with the Germanshas goods ranging from t-shirts to traditional veils and
against Russia. Failing, their former lands in the Arabheadscarves, pewter, metal, jewelry, illegal DVDs, etc.
world became ruled by the French and British. In 1923,Nearly every store offers dozens of huqqah (hookah)
the sultanate was abolished, and Mustafa Kamalwaterpipes for smoking tobacco (marijuana and other
"Atatürk" (Father of the Turks) banneddrugs are illegal). Tobacco and huqqah, which are
the Arabic alphabet (hence it is today written with abelieved to have both originated as a cultural device in
German and Latin base), declaring a secular republicthe Ottoman Empire, are a source of pride for the
with an ultraconservative and centralized government.Turks. Many of their victim nations of the past or
By no means at all was this out of admiration forregions to which Turks and Muslims immigrate have
freedom, tolerance, or multiculturalism, but rather topopular huqqah "bars" for smoking, especially in Ukraine
alleviate the Turks' post-war economic collapse bywhere the Turkic Crimean Tatars offer it to the local
opening economic and political ties with the victoriousSlavs. A trait unique to Turkey occurs upon passing
West. The rebellious Armenian Christian minority thatany business: business owners and employees literally
was accused of massacring Turkish soldiers (and did)stock passerbyers for miles to coax them into seeing
and civilians was slaughtered by the Turks in thetheir wares. Several people at once pursue
denied Armenian genocide. The statehood claims ofpedestrians for several minutes and even later in the
Kurdistan, Greater Armenia, and Western-ruled landday again if another encounter occurs, offering tea
was completely conquered. The government ofand friendship, asking from where the visitor comes
Turkey became an ultra-right wing military state untiland his nationality. This hospitable ploy is in reality an
today. Today, the very people who rose the banner ofattempt to make a sale to the coming wealthier tourist
Jihad against Europe is seeking to exploit itsfrom Europe. Businessmen can be seen carrying trays
multicultural liberal goals to integrate universally with itsof ultra-strong Turkish tea all over the city to be
former mutual enemy.brought to later shop clients. One can barter in any
Istanbul is arguably the greatest city in the worldstore. Many stores are willing to drop as much as 50%
archaeologically, historically, and culturally. Nowhere elseof a product's worth to make a sale with only little
but in Muslim Turkey do nationalism and pride in culture,effort by the client. Turkmen and Azerbaijani (Azeri)
heritage, history, their distinct race and language, thebusinessmen can be seen everywhere in Turkey, as
Islamic faith, and tradition coalesce so strongly intoboth descend from the same race (though the latter
national awareness. Aside from the endless mosques,professes Iran's Shi'ia Islam); they integrate well into the
there are thousands upon thousands of massivesociety of their brethren. Kurdish minority businessmen
Turkish flags proudly announcing the Turkish heritagecan also be seen in their tight-knit yet marginalized
rooted in the star and crescent of Islam. Nearly everysociety that is directly hampered by the government.
home has a Turkish flag on display for all to see, oftenTheir language is illegal in schools and government, and
right next to government-ordered sets of 20-flagthe Kurds' Iranian-based language may only air on
standards or 25-foot massive flags in the center oftelevision by law on a select few number of channels
town. From its cultural capital (not political) of Istanbul,for a small number of minutes per week. Armenian
the triumph of Turkish and Islamic history, culture, andChristians and Jews are given just as few rights in this
heritage over its predecessors of the Romans andstaunchly Islamic society. This inequality, along with
Greeks (Byzantines) can be studied in the same city.Turkey's denial of the genocide of Armenians (who
By no means but politically is Turkey a secular orwere assaulting Turks in an independence movement),
godless state as they accuse America of being. Theis a major criticism by the social-liberal US and EU
Turks embrace their secular politics today with greatagainst Turkey. Turkey is incredibly homogeneously;
wisdom: by being politically secular but culturally anearly all the inhabitants are of the same race (Turks)
staunchly Islamic nation, the Turks can distinguishor their descendants (Azeris, Turkmen, Tatars), with
themselves from the Arabs they hate and deem sosome unrelated Muslim Baluch, Arab, and Uzbek
primitive, and trade amply with Europe and America asminorities (aside from the marginalized Armenian,
well as the Islamic world, without limiting the importanceGreek, and Georgian Christians).
of Islam in daily life to the Turks. Prayer or "Ezan" isJust walking through the cities of the western coast
sounded for miles five times per day to be heard from(especially Istanbul and Kusadashi), one can encounter
miles and miles away from the hundreds uponByzantine Greek Christian treasures before the
hundreds of mosques whose massive minaret spiresTurkish conquest, pre-Christian Greek cities preserved
reach for the heavens:in entirety, Roman arches, and ancient Iranian tombs.
In Arabic:The Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) - considered among the
Allahu Akhbar; Allahu Akhbar.greatest buildings ever built - rests in the center of the
Ashadu-allah, Ilaha il Allah. Ashadu-allah, Ilaha il Allah.Islamic cultural capital (Istanbul) of the last 500 years
Ashadu-anna Muhammadan Rasulallah. Ashadu-anna(after Baghdad before it and Damascus before that).
Muhammadan Rasulallah.With its foundations built before the life of Jesus, and
Hayyah a Salah. Hayyah a Salah.its massive domed walls built by the greatest
Hayyah a Falah. Hayyah a Falah.Byzantine empire since Constantine the Great himself,
Allahu Akhbar. La Ilahai Allah.Justinian (conquerer of the southern German
In English:conquerers of the Roman Empire), the Ayasofya was
Allah is great; Allah is great.the largest Christian building in the world until St. Peter's
I confess that there is no majesty but Allah. I confessBasilica was built in the Vatican in the 11th century. It
that there is no majesty but Allah.was so magnificent a Christian church that it
I confess that Muhammad is his messenger. I confessimpressed the heathen Slavic king Vladimir the Great,
that Muhammad is his messenger.king of the Germanic-built Kievan Rus, to convert all
Hurry to prayer. Hurry to prayer. Hurry to success.Slavs of Europe to the Orthodox faith of the Greeks.
Hurry to success.In the 15th century, when the Muslim Jihad delivered the
God is great. There is no majesty but Allah.ultimate fate into the heart of the Byzantine infidel
Looking in one direction in one portion of the massivecapital of Constantinople (now Istanbul), the holy
city of Istanbul, one can see anywhere from 5 to 50Orthodox church was converted into a mosque.
mosques with two or more minarets each toweringToday, it remains among the greatest and most
above the city's Muslim inhabitants. There are hardlymajestic mosques in the world; a true testament to the
any Christian churches or synagogues that are notvictory of Islam over Christendom. When the republic
museums that were not burnt by the Ottoman Jihad.was declared, it was converted into a museum.
Turkey is reportedly 99.8% Muslim (majority Sunni).Nonetheless the call to prayer is firmly and proudly
These mosques are built 500 years ago as they areemitted from it for the entire city to hear. The interior is
only recently. The "secular" government funds theancient, tarnished, and fading as expected from its age.
construction of mosques as well as pays their imamsIt is rich in ancient Orthodox Christian mosaics and
(equivalent of priests) and mullahs a form offrescoes of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Saints
government salaries. Many argue that this is to allowdating over 1,500 years of age. All evidence of Jesus
pro-government (right-wing) imams to prevent radicalwas entirely erased or burnt when the Jihad reached
militant Islam that is commonplace in Turkey amongthe Byzantine capital, with the mosaics of Jesus and
Turks and Kurds both. There are signs everywhere inthe saints covered in a plaster base. This was later
the city listing the latest times of the call to prayeruncovered when the building became a museum, and
based upon adjustments to the direction of the sun.can be seen today with much of it removed due to
When the loud pencefold prayer (five per day) is notage and peeling. The original Byzantine design during
being echoed with synchronism between the endlessthe Roman period and afterward (under Justinian) can
mosques in the nation for several minutes at a time,be seen, oddly with Hakenkreuze (or the Indian
one can hear Islamic lectures, chants, and prayersSwastika) all throughout the building and arches in
from the mosque's loudspeakers throughout the day,obverse and reverse both. The building is almost
reaffirming the Turks as a Muslim people who are byentirely in reconstruction with painters carefully
no means akin to their Arab, west Iranian, or Uzbekrepainting the surface. Original massive plaques cover
subjects of the past. Prayer can be heard even fromthe walls of the building with verses from al-Qur'an and
ships outside the harbor at all hours of the day: asthe holy 99 names of Allah all about the massive
early as 0200 and as late as 2300. Stars andoverhead dome. The original Mihrab (the gate in the
crescents not on flags are visible all throughout the city,center of the mosque showing the direction of Makkah
distinguishing the Turks' usage of these symbols fromto which all must pray) and Minbar (the steps to
being simply their traditional flag, but rather anheaven from which the imam or mullah speaks to the
expression of their heritage and submission to Islam.taliba) are in perfect golden condition. Only 200 paces
Unlike in some parts of the Islamic world, like infrom the huge mosque, the walls of Constantinople
Uzbekistan and Morocco, the nation's Muslims do notthat the Turks struggled for years to overrun can be
generally just bow on the spot and initiate prayer.touched. One can even see the black marks where
Rather, hundreds of people can be seen walking intothe Mujahidin's cannons bombarded the Christian gates
each mosque all throughout the day (though prayerfor years and years before final victory. Within eye's
can be performed at home or at work, and often islength from the Ayasofya, one can see the greatest
instead of going to the mosque all day long). Women inmosque in all of Turkey: the Blue Mosque or the Sultan
veils or full burqas, men with regular conservativeAhmed mosque. Built in the 15th century, its blue iznik
clothes, men with full beards and Hamas-esquedomes is arguably the center of Istanbul, where most
frightening turbans and aggressive expressions, andof the most famous imams and Islamic scholars
children of all ages can be seen hurrying to prayer.attend. The interior is gorgeous, massive, clean,
Many Turks are militant and ultra-nationalist in their faith,segregated, completely covered in carpets, and
which frightens the secular government and its militarydecorated in blue flower designs with Arabic
state. Islam is ultraconservative: men must coverinscriptions and plaques with "Allah" written on nearly
shoulders and legs, and women must cover shouldersevery wall. The main area for prayer is forbidden to
and their heads with veils or headscarves. No infidelsinfidels during all hours. Sitting in the courtyard between
(Christians, Jews, etc.) are allowed in mosques duringthe Ayasofya and Blue Mosque during prayer is a sad
prayer. Inside the mosques, though, foreign whitereminder of the collapse of faith and tradition in the US
tourists can be seen bypassing this law to the dismayand gradually Europe, and the strong resilience of faith
of the imams who cannot regulate some 400 peoplein the Islamic world.
in one mosque at a time. Shoes may not be wornThe hundreds of other mosques throughout Turkey
inside the mosques nor anywhere on the steps aroundand Istanbul are equal treasures, as are the endless
it (which is strongly enforced). Men and women can betemples and palaces built by the numerous Turkish
seen performing ablutions (washing the hands, head,sultans, especially at their main palace of Topkap1
and feet to void the soul of sin, dirt, and worldliness) in(Toep-kop-uh) whose halls and harems seem to bear
local blessed fountains with Arabic writing around themno end. Inside the sultan's main palace, a fantastic
before entering. Outside of mosques, ablution fountainstreasure horde of the personal swords, helms, and
can be seen everywhere in Turkey by the hundredsstandards of the most valiant of Islamic Jihadists and
to encourage both cleanliness as well as prayer inconquerers can be found. The swords of Mehmet II
solitude away from mosques. Men and women are(who obliterated the Byzantine Empire forever),
strictly segregated inside and outside of mosquesSulayman the Magnificent (who led the golden age of
during religious rituals and prayer, virtually in separatethe Ottomans), Sultan Ahmed (who brought a height of
rooms. Turkey is nonetheless one of the few places inIslamic architecture), and other Jihadist Mujahidin can be
the world whose big tourist cities allow infidels to enterseen with Arabic script and surah quotes from
mosques. During prayer, again, no infidels are allowed.al-Qur'an engraved in gold leaf on the scimitar blade.
The "whirling darvishes" (or dervishes), Sufi monks whoOther collected treasures taken from European victim
stand and spin about to near themselves to Allah, arenations can also be found dating centuries before the
celebrated and sold all throughout the city in pewter,conquest of the Christian Balkans. There is a separate
plastic, and wood, as the Sufis played a large role inchamber for white eunuch slave guards forcibly
the conversion of world peoples to Islam.conscripted, converted to Islam, and castrated after
Aside from the Islamic religion, which is rejected andbeing taken from their Christian families in Europe after
found incompatible with European culture by mostthe conquest (excluding tens of thousands of white
Europeans, the issue of the headscarf and veil is aChristians regularly converted and forced into the
common conflict in the European theatre. The millionsjanissary elite armies). Under the city, a massive and
of Muslims who immigrate to Europe (illegally andstill-damp Roman aqueduct can be traversed. The
legally) are more and more being forbid to wear theancient and world-famous indoor Grand Bazaar with
headscarf in public and in schools, with some claimingits 20,000+ shop stalls is a national treasure with
that it has no place in Europe and others arguing that itendless products for sale at cheap prices; it is easy to
is an object of female oppression. During the sultanateget lost.
period (pre-1923), all women were forced to wear aTurkish music is entirely unique in its own right, but is
veil or headscarf. Since the republic was declared,greatly akin to traditional Arabic, Farsi, and Berber
women are no longer required. Today, most Turkishmusic. The Christian European nations subject to the
women still do wear veils or headscarves, arguing thatJihad (including Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania,
it is an element of Islamic heritage expected of themtoday's southern Ukraine [the Crimea], etc.) all have in
by their families and their nation. Many do not coverpart a degree of Turkish or Arabic influence in some
their heads (especially the youth), with some arguingof their music aside from the works of foreign
that it is limiting and uncomfortably hot, and othersimmigrants. The tobacco and huqqah culture of the
arguing that it makes them look like the Arabs theyMuslims has spread there with great success in
deem so primitive and violent; it is not a rejection ofpopular youth culture. The Crimea in Ukraine, where
Islam, though Islam and al-Qur'an require all women tothe previous Turkic Tatar Muslims were time and time
cover their heads in public at all hours of the day everyexpelled by the Slavs before being conquered and
day. Most younger women (prepubescents to 23 orsaved by the Ottomans, is rife with Turkish influence
so) do not cover their heads, but most adults andwhere it was not exterminated. The strange Turkish
elderly do (who comprise the vast majority of the"blue eye" (a figure with a black center, white interior,
Turkish population). Many women of all ages wear notand light blue exterior against a deep blue base), which
only a multicolored personal headscarf, but a full hijabis used as a Turkish cultural agent of superstition and
(body covering with the face exposed) or occasionallypiety to Islam can be seen in all of the Muslims' former
a Taliban-esque burqa (covering all but the feet). Mostconquests, including Greece, Ukraine, and in the far
men dress conservatively, but some wear full whitesouth of Russia near Chechnya and Dagestan. Turkish
robes with turbans and beards (which reminds afood (which is fantastic), including kebabs of lamb and
European of terrorist mullahs to great personal fright).beef along with vegetables and rice, yogurts and
Most youths of both genders dress conservativelydates can be seen in each of their subject Christian
instead of sexually or promiscuously, which is rejectedstates as well. Pork is largely unavailable, forbidden by
in Islam and in Turkish Muslim culture. The hijab (anyal-Qur'an.
type of head covering) is forbidden in mostTraveling to Turkey was one of the most amazing
government buildings, though in most shops andexperiences of my life, especially in Istanbul, but it was
buildings women still cover their heads, and al-Qur'an isutmost important to come to the conclusion via
proudly visible even in government offices and statepersonal experience that the Turks are distinct --
buildings. A perceived shift of the Turkish women'spolitically, culturally, ethnically, and historically -- from
dress from ultraconservative and veiled toEuropeans in every fashion of the word, and any
"Westernized" with an exposed head does notpossible effort to merge them with the peoples of
indicate a liberalization of Islam or right-wingEurope or its EU-puppet governments is not the
"Turkishness" as the EU and USA would love to seeemployment of logic but rather a blind act of
occur, but rather a celebration of separate Turkishincompatible multicultural union.
culture and heritage instead of affiliation with "ArabFrom the European Heritage Library
terrorists". Illegal in Islam as well, beer is legal in Turkey
and is drunken by many Turks (though many refuse it),Articles, maps, videos, and photos of European history,
the most famous of which being Efes, a very strongculture, religion, languages, and the controversial issue
lager-type beer. During Ramadan or even duringof Islam in Europe.
prayer-time, many stores and bars which normally sell