CHP: AKP Is Religion Based Party That Has Problems With Secular Republic And Ataturk’s Reforms

Source: Milliyet, Turkey, August 17, 2007

Columnist Hasan Pulur of mainstream Milliyet agrees with the main opposition party CHP and writes that once Abdullah Gul becomes president and AKP succeeds in getting the turban to presidency, there is no doubt that it will pave its way to cover the heads of female judges, the policewomen, the female military officers, doctors in hospitals and so on.

Pulur says that one should not be fooled by Gul’s conciliatory words and promises about impartiality and commitment to secularism as none of these will be kept; and soon enough he will deny, change or dilute them as he has the habit to do. Pulur reminds that Gul is experienced and well trained in deception during his many years in former PM Erbakan’s Milli Gorus Islamist front. Gul’s spouse had filed a case about turban ban with the European Court for Human Rights against Turkey, to withdraw it only when her husband became prime minister after 2002 elections.