I've come across many Pakistani leftists, both religious and secular who see the modern Turkish republic established by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, also known as the "Ataturk" or "father of Turks," as a role model for modernizing Pakistan.
Most of these people are misinformed and do not understand the history and politics of Turkey.
What has been done to Turkey is not really secularism but rather Westernization, which is separate from secularism. By abolishing the Perso-Arabic script and adopting Latin alphabet as the official alphabet and by abandoning traditional Turkish Anatolian clothes for Western dress, there is not much secularism involved.
Even though we frequently hear of the hijab being banned in public places in Turkey, is that really secularism?
I've read articles and seen news reports on the Internet over the treatment of religious minorities in Turkey and it seems to be even worse than Pakistan.
Religious minorities have a tough time working in civil services in Turkey such as police and other government jobs.
Converting from Islam has severe punishments under Turkish law. Many religious minorities in Turkey need government permission to build religious sites.
This is far from secularism, in fact quite the opposite. Does this not remind some Pakistani readers of the same "Indian secularism?" Where minorities are treated in the worst forms while keeping the country somewhat Westernized, imitating Western pop-culture.
This is not the role model for Pakistan. Those who claim that Ataturk was Jinnah's true model need to prove when Jinnah wanted a Latin alphabet writing system for Pakistan or when he wanted Pakistanis to abandon Shalwar Kameez in favor of Western clothes.
Those who also think Turkey or Ataturk are more secular than Pakistan should read this article.
I am not trying to be negative against Turkey or Turkish people. I might also be wrong about Turkey's reforms by Ataturk and the outcome of it, but all I am expressing is that it does not work for Pakistan. Pakistan must find a secular path without Westernization, retaining it's original culture and striving for maximum religious equality.
The videos below cover the tense situation of Christian minorities in Turkey:
Most of these people are misinformed and do not understand the history and politics of Turkey.
What has been done to Turkey is not really secularism but rather Westernization, which is separate from secularism. By abolishing the Perso-Arabic script and adopting Latin alphabet as the official alphabet and by abandoning traditional Turkish Anatolian clothes for Western dress, there is not much secularism involved.
Even though we frequently hear of the hijab being banned in public places in Turkey, is that really secularism?
I've read articles and seen news reports on the Internet over the treatment of religious minorities in Turkey and it seems to be even worse than Pakistan.
Religious minorities have a tough time working in civil services in Turkey such as police and other government jobs.
Converting from Islam has severe punishments under Turkish law. Many religious minorities in Turkey need government permission to build religious sites.
This is far from secularism, in fact quite the opposite. Does this not remind some Pakistani readers of the same "Indian secularism?" Where minorities are treated in the worst forms while keeping the country somewhat Westernized, imitating Western pop-culture.
This is not the role model for Pakistan. Those who claim that Ataturk was Jinnah's true model need to prove when Jinnah wanted a Latin alphabet writing system for Pakistan or when he wanted Pakistanis to abandon Shalwar Kameez in favor of Western clothes.
Those who also think Turkey or Ataturk are more secular than Pakistan should read this article.
I am not trying to be negative against Turkey or Turkish people. I might also be wrong about Turkey's reforms by Ataturk and the outcome of it, but all I am expressing is that it does not work for Pakistan. Pakistan must find a secular path without Westernization, retaining it's original culture and striving for maximum religious equality.
The videos below cover the tense situation of Christian minorities in Turkey:
No comments:
Post a Comment