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Competing visions for Turkey's future
On Sunday, voters weigh the ruling party's strong economic record against fears of a growing Islamist agenda.
By Scott Peterson | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitorfrom the July 20, 2007 edition
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Istanbul, Turkey - The political and cultural chasms are large in Turkey, as Islamist and secular visions of the future vie for votes in parliamentary elections on Sunday.
But there is little that separates two women standing on the front line of a vast rally in Istanbul this week for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has its roots in political Islam.
They could not appear more different: Sultan Belli wears knock-off Versace sunglasses, hoop earrings, and a tight orange T-shirt. Saime Daglar is shrouded all in black, except for her eyes and the blue AKP flag she waves with fervor.
But both profess their love for Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"I love Tayyip Erdogan more than any other!" shouts Ms. Belli, standing on the police barrier with silver-painted toenails, ticking off reasons like hospital reforms and lower taxes.
Thronged by hundreds of thousands of AKP supporters, many wearing headscarves, she says she doesn't worry – as many of her secular compatriots do – about a creeping Islamist agenda.
"I don't believe it," says Belli, as politicians rev up the crowd. "The other parties are using this as propaganda."
Also not swayed by the "propaganda" is Ms. Daglar, who pulls down her veil just enough to say that government should keep out of religion. She "loves" Mr. Erdogan, she says, because "he serves his public and his state. We tried many other parties in the past – none of them worked."
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