Turks who don't want Gül as president "should leave"

Radio Netherlands ^ | August 22 2007

[knighthawk]

Ankara - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says that Turks who do not want to accept Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül as their next president "must renounce their citizenship" and leave the country. The prime minister was responding to an article in Hurriyet newspaper by columnist Bekir Coskun, who wrote that Mr Gül would "not be my president". According to the columnist, the election of Mr Gül, who is the candidate of the ruling Muslim AK Party, would mean the end of Turkey's secular traditions and a victory for political Islam. Turkish newspapers and opposition parties have described the prime minister's attack against the columnist as "undemocratic".

In the first round of the parliamentary presidential election on Monday, the foreign minister fell short of the required two-thirds majority. However, he is expected to be elected on the 18th of August, when he will only need a simple majority.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Paleo Conservative]

That reminds me. Alec Baldwin never lived up to his promise.

[PeteB570]

islam is not being more moderate around the world.

It is becoming more militant.

Too bad more people can’t see it.

[ari-freedom]

islam is becoming...what islam always was about.

[Lost Dutchman]

Islam doesn’t need a Reformation. Islam is currently having it’s Reformation.

[Publius6961]

I'll buy that.
If secular government is maintained (or returned) then all muslims suck it up or leave.
No explosives allowed, instead.

[kalee]

Turkish newspapers and opposition parties have described the prime minister’s attack against the columnist as “undemocratic”.

i think Islam is incompatible with democracy.

[SunkenCiv]

Not to worry. The Russians will be breathing down their necks sooner or later.