Turks march against radical Islam

AP:

Thousands of nationalist Turks marched in the capital Saturday, vowing to defend the secular regime against radical Islamic influences and urging the government not to make too many concessions in order to gain European Union membership.

Some 12,000 people from more than 100 pro-secular associations waved Turkish flags as they marched to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. "Turkey is secular and it will remain secular," they chanted during a march broadcast live on television.

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Since taking power in 2002, Erdogan has stoked secularist concerns by speaking out against restrictions on wearing Islamic-style headscarfs in government offices and schools and supporting religious schools. He also tried to criminalize adultery before being forced to back down under intense EU pressure, and some party-run municipalities have taken steps to ban alcohol.

A former Constitutional Court judge, Sezer has vetoed a record number of laws he ruled violated the secular constitution and has blocked government efforts to appoint hundreds of reportedly Islamic-oriented candidates to important civil service positions.

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It is good to see people in at least one Muslim country stand up to the religious bigots. Turkey is apparently returning to its secular tradition. It will be interesting to see if the Islamist tantrum brigades will take to the street in response.