Religious Turks tested by wealth

[Adsos Letter]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Europe

ISTANBUL: Turkey's religious businesspeople spent years building empires on curtains, candy bars and couches. But as observant Muslims in one of the world's most self-consciously secular states, they were never accepted by elite society.

Now that group has become its own elite, and Turkey, a more openly religious country. It has lifted an Islamic-inspired political party to power and helped make Turkey the seventh-largest economy in Europe.

And while other Muslim societies are wrestling with radicals, Turkey's religious merchant class is struggling instead with riches.

"Muslims here used to be tested by poverty," said Sehminur Aydin, an observant businesswoman and the daughter of a manufacturing magnate. "Now they're being tested by wealth."





Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/26/europe/turkey.php

[fbahrami]

1. Turkey = Iran - 1979 Revolution

I always thought that if Iran had not had the 1979 Revolution (and I don't call it an Islamic revolution because I saw that it was started by students and intellectuals and overtaken by the 'religious right') it would be like Turkey today. Funny thing is, living under a theocracy has made average Iranians *less* religious (don't believe the corporate news - I've lived there and visit regularly), whereas Turkey has become *more* religious. Anyway I thought this point may be interesting to some DUers.

On a different note, I loved this documentary on the music of Istanbul ("music is the reflection of culture"):
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4471685519999859252&ei=DLJSSYGgIJiEqQObr5WeCw&q=crossing+bridges
At some point in it, a musician refutes the "East vs. West" distinction as a "historical lie" and offers Turkey as living proof of "both East and West." Fascinating stuff which challenges "our" view of "them".

[Orrin_73]

3. Turkey would never be a theocracy

not in 1980 or before. Even during the Ottoman times it was not a theocracy. Iran is shiite and Turkey is Sunni (hanafite branch), the hanafite branch of Sunni Islam is secular. The majority of modern day Turks are religious they are not wahhabi like in Saudi Arabia. The economic growth in the last decade brought in a new middle class that is moderately conservative.
In Iran there was a hate against the Shah that brought Khomeini to power. I doubt that Khomeini could have succeeded in enthroning the Shah without the help of Iranian communists. The communists were destroyed by the mullahs right after the revolution, the people of Iran grew increasingly frustrated with the mullahs. The power of the mullahs was reinforced when Saddam attacked Iran, the people of Iran rallied behind khomeini and the mullahs. This is an entirely different situation then in Turkey.

[Karenina]

4. Your link, for me, was time well-spent.

Thank you so much for the Sunday joie de vivre!

Fortunately, I speak 2 of the languages and have a clue on a third. The subtitles... :eyes: No matter. I had a good time.

[harun]

6. Good observations, having spent time in Turkey I agree.

Also my friends who live in Iran say the same thing. Having the gov't too religious makes the public hate religion.

[tomreedtoon]

2. All this money from Turkish Taffy?

I know it used to be advertised in the 1960's on TV, but I never liked the stuff. "Smack it - crack it!" seems to be the Middle Eastern approach to government, though, so I guess the Turks deserve soem credit for selling the concept commercially.

Seriously, what kind of candy did these guys make a fortune with? Is it anything sold in the US, and should we be wary of the new Melamine flavor of that candy?

[PassingFair]

5. Probably this stuff: