Cracks emerge in bridge between East and West

By Selcan Hacaoglu

Associated Press / April 4, 2009

ANKARA, Turkey – As the only Muslim member of NATO and a candidate to join the European Union, Turkey has come to be seen as a bridge between East and West, held up by Washington as a shining example of how Islam is compatible with modern democracy.

But as President Obama prepares to come here next week in a trip some herald as a diplomatic milestone, Turkish leaders are grappling with a formidable challenge: radical Islamic groups preaching jihad and vowing to unravel Turkey’s democratic achievements.

The conundrum is twofold: A real threat from Muslim radicals intent on destabilizing the government, and the perception by many that by cracking down, Turkey is betraying the very democratic principles that have helped win it much trust and acceptance in the West.

Listening to the radicals, it’s easy to fathom Turkey’s difficulties.

Yilmaz Celik, a spokesman for the radical Islamist group Hizb-ut Tahrir, was released from prison last month after serving a five-month sentence on terrorism charges.

He says he despises the United States, finds the “Alliance of Civilizations” conference Obama is attending a joke, and believes Turkey’s moderate, Islamist-leaning leadership is a stooge of the West.

“We’re full of grudges and hatred against the United States and Britain for exporting their ideology and giving ‘soft messages’ to deceive the Islamic world, for example, in the shape of an olive branch to Iran,” said Celik, whose group has attracted a following in dozens of countries.

The fine line Celik tries to tread puts Turkey in a quandary.

Turkey’s EU bid depends greatly on its ability to promote itself as a nation that respects civil liberties like freedom of speech.

But the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also keenly aware of how fragile Turkey’s social and political equilibrium can be. The military has ousted four elected governments since 1960. The government believes its hard line is the only way to keep radical Muslim groups in check.

Turkey has been vigilant against homegrown Islamic militants since Al Qaeda-linked suicide bombers killed 58 people in 2003. Al Qaeda’s austere and violent interpretation of Islam receives little public backing in the country.

However, some radical Muslims here regard Turkey’s friendship with Israel, the United States, and Britain – as well as efforts to join the EU – as tantamount to treason. And the country is still debating the role of religion in the officially secular state.

Celik accuses the United States of waging what he called a “fourth crusade” against the Muslims.

“For us, neither Bush nor Obama is any different,” Celik said. “They are given the same mission. When you look from the outside, Obama might be using a softer language. But Obama is certainly not sincere.”

Celik said Obama’s arrival in Turkey is aimed at “strengthening the United States’ influence in Muslim lands through soft messages.”

Turkey and Germany are among countries that ban Hizb-ut Tahrir.