Turkey Proves that Islam Can Coexist with Democracy

United States President Obama is determined to improve the relationship with Islamic countries. It is a focal point of his foreign policy. That certainly is necessary, after the dramatic performance of his predecessor Bush. Shortly after his inauguration, Obama had his first interview on Arab television channel, Al-Arabiya. In that interview, he announced his willingness to improve the U.S. relationship with the Arab and Islamic world.

This relationship would consist, henceforward, of mutual respect, taking into account each other’s interests, Obama promised – a very different tone from that of Bush, who separated the world, according his own measures, into Good and Evil. The video message from the American president to the Iranian population and leaders is another example of “C’est le ton qui fait la musique” (meaning, – “It’s not what you say but how you say it”).

That Obama is not only about words but also about actions, is demonstrated in his state visit to the Islamic country, Turkey. For the American president the visit is needed, not only to improve the relationship with the Islamic world, but also to emphasize the influential position of Turkey.

Turkey’s influence in the Middle East is growing. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has become very popular in the Arab and Islamic world after his open criticism of Israel’s performance in the Gaza war. The criticism had few consequences for the years-old good relations with Israel. That makes Turkey stand out as an important mediator in solving the conflict between the Arab world and Israel. Syria and Israel negotiated recently in Turkey, about a peace agreement. Turkey also can play an important mediating role in the conflict between the West and Iran.

As a NATO ally, Turkey is of incalculable value for the West. The Islamic country can contribute to conflict resolutions in regions like Afghanistan and Iraq. Western troops in these countries are distrusted by local populations. Involvement by Turkey would take away that distrust, because it could not be accused of executing a Western, imperialistic agenda.

Although the U.S. acknowledges the important strategic position of Turkey and its influence in international politics, and also uses this to its own benefit, some European countries – among them, the Netherlands – continue to block the admission of Turkey to the European Union. All too often, the argument is used that Turkey is an Islamic country and, therefore, does not belong in Europe. This not only implicitly ignores, but also denies the presence of the many millions of Muslims in Europe.

Turkey has the advantage of being the only country that can build a bridge between West and East. That the country has a rather dubious reputation in human rights and freedom of speech is known. Rightly so, that Turkey should worry about international criticism in that area. The country has reached visible results in the past years in the field of human rights, especially those of minorities – although not nearly enough.

During my stay in the Middle East, I noticed, from up close, the exemplary role Turkey plays in the region. For decades, the Arab population has heard from its corrupt regimes that Islam and democracy do not go together. This dogma is no longer taken for granted, because the Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) is in power in Turkey. Democratic developments in Turkey are largely attributable to the AKP.

U.S. President Obama acknowledges the role Turkey can play in regional conflicts and in a dialogue between the Islamic world and the West. It is not for nothing that Obama pleads for Turkish membership in the European Union.

Unfortunately, Europe thinks differently about that for now. A missed opportunity!