Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basm Özeti
Islamic radicalism and a growing number of inroads
against Turkey's secular tradition.
"These measures were agreed to by all members of the
Security Council," and must be carried out, he said.
"Otherwise, it will negatively affect the future of this
coun t ry. "
'The directives included a ban on broadcast propaganda
for sharia, the Islamic legal code; continued restrictions
on religious dress such as head scarves, and steps to
stem the growth of religious-training junior high and
high schools. Other measures sought by the council
were tighter surveillance of religion-based financial
organizations and firmer controls on the purchase of
pump-action shotguns that reportedly were being
stockpiled by Islamic radicals. The directives were
issued after the Welfare Party, which came to power in
a coalition with the pro-secular True Path Party, began
pushing a more Islamic-oriented agenda early this year.
It advocated, for example, relaxing of the dress code that
prohibits women from wearing Islamic head scarves in
public buildings.
Bir laid down no deadline for implementation of the
anti-fundamentalist measures. But he added, "The later
it gets, the more trouble there is for us."
Erbakan signed the list of directives after they were
issued, but he has since dragged his feet on
implementation. Other party members have voiced
heated opposition to some of the measures, particularly.
one designed to reduce the number of junior and
senior high schools geared toward Islamic training.
Analysts have depicted Erbakan, a 3D-year veteran in
Turkish politics, as walking a tightrope, not wanting to
raise the wrath of the military on the one hand, and
not wanting to alienate his grass-roots support by
implementing the anti-fundamentalist measures.
But the military is determined to see the measures
implemented and expects action on the directives by
the time the Security Council meets later this month, a
senior government adviser said.
Bir ruled out an armed intervention by the military,
which has assumed power three times since 1960. "We
know that military coups have brought negative
results," he said.
"We do believe that with pressure from democratic
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