The evidence of the thirst in the Muslim world for a sincere Islamic leadership can be understood by a fact that even a little gesture of concern regarding the Muslim Ummah is enough to regard a leadership as sincere, Islamic and the representative in any section of the Muslim world.
AKP’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s myth of heroism is similar in this regard. The positive appraisal of Recep Tayyip Erdogan can be comprehended in a way that not only the Muslims in general but even the leaders of some religious organizations are also there to praise him only for his gestures and mouth words.
The leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed in a visit to Turkey gave regards to Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a true spokes man of the Muslim Ummah. Similarly Hamas a Palestinian group regards them on Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s anger over Israel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. However the Israeli official says that the relationship between the two countries would not be affected but the relations with Erdogan would become adverse. This means the tension between the two entities was only limited to verbal claims.
ARGUMENTS PRESENTED FOR SINCERITY & ISLAMISM OF ERDOGAN & AKP
Erdogan was given a ten month prison sentence (of which he served six months) for reciting a poem in Siirt in December 1997, which, under article 312/2 of the Turkish penal code was regarded as an incitement to commit an offense and incitement to religious or racial hatred. It included verses translated as “The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers….” He completed his sentence on 24 July 1999. Before his conviction, the Welfare Party was declared unconstitutional and was shut down by the Turkish constitutional court on the grounds of threatening the secular order in Turkey. Erdogan became a constant speaker at the demonstrations held by his party colleagues. Therefore this argument is presented as he is being Islamist or true representative of Muslims
The second argument to prove Erdogan religious and his party AKP as religious is that Erdogan’s wife wear a headscarf whereas wearing the Islamic-style head covering is banned in Turkish government offices, schools and universities. Mr Erdogan’s deputy, Abdullah Gul also has a wife with a headscarf. So leaders leading their wives to wear a scarf wheras it is banned in public places are regarded as being Islamism by many.
The third argument which is presented is that Mr. Erdogan cut off defense ties with Israel when Gaza was attacked. Therefore these arguments are presented in order to prove that Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a heroic leader in the Muslim world.
THE EXPLOITATION OF ISLAM FOR FOREIGN POLITICAL MOTIVES
It is not new that political leaders in the Muslim world have exploited the name of Islam to fulfill their political desires or designed motives of the foreign world. It is due to the fact that common Muslims are inert to offer any leadership to personality who is alien to Islam. Pervaiz Musharraf also exploited the treaty of Hudaibiya for making a U-turn against Taliban. However in contrast unlike the treaty of Hudaibiya, Pervez Musharraf unconditionally supported the US without any time frame. Foreign concepts of interest based banking are beautifully wrapped with Islamic banking labels. Similarly when concept of socialism is to be given for the Muslim masses a term Islamic socialism was coined for it. This actually proves that people in Muslim world want Islam and therefore these foreign ideas need a wrapping of Islam to be embraced in the Muslim world.
QURAN DIRECTS TO BE CAUTIOUS
Pickthall translated the verse of Quran chapter 5 verses 49 as:
‘So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that Allah’s will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! Many of mankind are evil-livers.’
In these definite & categorical verses of the Holy Quran Allah Almighty has explicitly described the system of life for Muslims which is only Islam and there is no acceptability of any desire or contamination of even a smallest part of Islam with some contradictory concept. This is also a point of affliction in the ruling of Allah. In this verse, not only the contamination of Islam with an alien idea is forbidden but also Prophet Peace be upon him is directed to be aware of the evil desires of the natives clashing the law of Allah. As this ordinance is not exclusive for Prophet Peace be upon him, therefore similar verdict is applicable for the Muslims in general. Hence before going to blindly adhere to someone as being an Islamic leadership it is necessary for us to put and evaluate him on the real grounds of Islam.
TAYYIP ERDOGAN AND AKP STATEMENTS
Recep Tayyip Erdogan had many times made it clear that his party is devoid of having an Islamic agenda. When he became the leader, he declared that “AK Party is not a political party with a religious axis.”
Similarly he categorically exclaimed his alignment with the liberal democratic doctrine as “We’ll start working on a new constitution right away to support democracy and freedoms,”
This clearly demonstrates the fact that Erdogan in its own words has a liberal, democratic and secular agenda.
THE REALITY OF TURKEY UNDER AKP RULE
As far as it is proclaimed that Turkey under AKP rule is progressing towards Islam, this myth is nullified by the arguments of Quran itself. The chapter 2 and verse 85-86 is translated as:
‘Do you, then, believe in one part of the Book and reject the other? What repayment will there be for any of you who do that, except disgrace in the world? And on the Day of Resurrection, they will be driven off to the harshest of punishments. Allah is not unaware of what you do. Those are the people who trade the Hereafter for this world. The punishment will not be lightened for them. They will not be helped.’
Therefore Islam has to be adopted in totality of what Allah had revealed. Therefore just trying to give some relaxation in scarf ban is not enough for an Islamic state or an Islamic leadership. However Turkey is still a parliamentary democracy, with the source of law as the majority ruling from five hundred and fifty members of Grand National Assembly of Turkey other than Quran and traditions of the Prophet peace be upon Him. Moreover under the AKP government in April 2010 first nudist beach in Turkey was approved. A part from it, wines with night clubs adjoined with prostitution and many other prohibited actions are officially permitted in Turkey.
AN IRONY
People in Muslim world, especially those who are ideologically weak, tries to stress to give AKP more time and he will ensure heroism and Islamism. Recently Erdogan made it crystal clear that he advocates secularism.
Although, Muslim Brotherhood initially gave an overwhelming welcome to Erdogan in Cairo but on the crystal clear statement of Erdogan aligning with the secular agenda upset them and then they criticized Erdogan for advocating secularism.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a visit to Egypt called Egyptians to take on a secular constitution, noting that secularism does not mean renouncing religion. He said;
“Do not be wary of secularism. I hope there will be a secular state in Egypt,” Erdogan stressed out the secularism is not against religion.
DEFINING SECULARISM
There are several leaders & orators in the Muslim world, who advocate secularism and try to present it compatible with Islam. The question is do they really know secularism? Or are they playing with the emotions and values of the people?
George Jacob Holyoake, the inventor of the word “secularism,” defined secularism in real terms in his book English Secularism:
‘Secularism is a code of duty pertaining to this life founded on considerations purely human, and intended mainly for those who find theology indefinite or inadequate, unreliable or unbelievable.’
Now should we consider the one who brought the idea of secularism first? or these pseudo intellectuals in the Muslim world who are still not aware of their own direction? Or if they are aware, then the question is do they find Islam indefinite, inadequate, unreliable and unbelievable??
ERDOGAN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITES STATES OF AMERICA
Although Erdogan is presented an Anti Obama Regime but it is really appalling that he actually praises Obama regime as “Personally, Barack Obama is someone I really like. And vis-a-vis his policies and his implementations, I want him to be much more successful.”
Pickthall translated the verse 5:57 as:
‘O Ye who believe! Choose not for guardians such of those who received the Scripture before you, and of the disbelievers, as make a jest and sport of your religion. But keep your duty to Allah if ye are true believers.’ (Al Quran 5:57)
AKP GOVERNMENT & ISRAEL ECONOMIC BOOSTS
The false claim of anti Israel approach of AKP is just another myth. In fact AKP has promoted economic ties with Israel and the action of AKP against Israeli terrorism remained limited to only verbal criticisms, although the Turkish people were martyred in Gaza Flotilla and remaining were wounded and taken into custody. The Turkish government in actuality did nothing more than verbal statements and ineffective schemes against the severe Gaza strip blockade. However the anti Israel statements were to fuel sentiments in favor of the AKP Turkish government. On the other hand the official statistics of Turkey reveals that Turkey-Israel trade volume rises by 135 percent under AKP government.
CONCLUSION
As per the reality of Turkey is concerned, the arguments presented to advocate AKP’s heroic stand in nullified on real, contrary and legal basis. AKP continued to intact Israeli Turkish economic terms on contrary of the claim that AKP seizes or minimizes the defense ties, there must be no economic ties with a crystal clear enemy as well. Moreover the claim of reducing defense ties was just a verbal one. Under the AKP rule as well the military ties continue and even joint drills were arranged.
In addition if the wife of Mr. Erdogan wear a scarf does it anyway symbolizes the establishment of Islam? When prostitution is allowed, alcoholic drinks are permissible and first nude beach was to be approved.
Thirdly reciting a poetry and imprisonment do not really reflect that a person or party is Islamist, heroic or going to establish the law of the creator i.e. Allah on the land.