Turkey: Conservative government, radical people.
It is very interesting to find that Turkey has had two pieces in the international news today. The first one was how 12 people killed three Christians who were printing and distributing Bibles (poor Gutenberg). The second piece of news was how the ruling party wishes to do away with the prohibition of head scarves in parliament, universities and schools.
The first article goes to show that no matter how European and westernized a country is, there are always a few citizens with loose nuts in their heads, that must have things their way or nothing at all, but insist on having it their way even if it means killing others.
Reminds me of American foreign policy.
You have the oil, we'll kill anyone we want for it, with any trumped up charge without any evidence to back it up.
The second piece of news is something that I'm sure will happen in France in times to come.
You cannot and should not stop a person from obeying the laws of his religion if it does no harm to others.
How do you think a cancer patient after 5 cycles of chemo would feel if she can't cover her head with a scarf, but has to put on a wig instead, just for the sake of secularism?
As a Muslim with female relatives who don't wear the head scarves over their heads, it's not an issue for the society here, nor in San Francisco, nor in Washington (cousin), to accept them, even if they do so. In most Arabic countries, and even Saudi Arabia, they'd be yelled at on the street for doing so.
It goes with location. Some places you can dress down while at others, you're forced to cover up to the point that they only see your eyes and the palm of your hands.
Truth be told, every country should allow it's people the freedom to preach and practice their religious beliefs. It encourages better understanding and clears up a lot of misunderstandings and taboo.
To add to that, the whole 70 some odd virgins tale is untrue, and anyone who believes in it will be going to a separate place than Syurga al-Jannah. That'a assured.
