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Thousands march for secularism in Turkey
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| Contributor | Penguin |
| Last Edited | Penguin Nov 04, 2006 10:33pm |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Sunday, November 5, 2006 04:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Thousands have marched through the Turkish capital, Ankara, vowing to defend Turkey's secular state against rising Islamic sentiment within the ruling AK Party.
Some 12,000 people from more than 100 pro-secular associations waved Turkish flags as they marched to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Many carried posters of Ataturk.
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"Turkey is secular and it will remain secular," they chanted during the march which was broadcast live on Turkish TV channels.
Secular Turks have felt increasingly threatened by a rise in Islamism under the AK Party.
There was outrage earlier this year when a high court judge, who had ruled against a teacher for wearing a headscarf to school, was shot by a lawyer. Tensions have been rising since.
Senal Sarihan, the president of the Republican Women's Association, said: "The gains of the republic were being rolled back one by one. Today is the day to rise up for the Republic." |
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