Turkey is part of Europe. Fear keeps it out of the EU

The Turkish question rarely figures in the foreground of European debate today, yet its spectre hovers over discussions of "European identity", "immigration" and the "Muslim question".

Political parties that call for an increasingly narrow view of Europe are gaining ground. These parties promote a strictly Judeo-Christian perspective of European history, mistrust of Islam, repressive hardline immigration policies and reject a Turkey they claim is overpopulated and excessively Muslim. [Guardian CiF] Read more

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Talking Turkey Turkey is part of Europe states Tariq Ramadan in the Guardian as he argues boldly that the state in question should be allowed to join the European Union. Those who disagree with Turkey’s accession are guilty of Islamophobia and a faulty reading of history. [Harry’s Place] Read more

For information about Mr Ramadan see here

Ankara Shows Its Hand - Turkey's scheming at the Strasbourg summit proves it doesn't belong in the European Union .... But very suddenly, the Turkish delegation threatened to veto the appointment. The grounds of Turkey's opposition were highly significant. Most important, they had to do with the publication of some cartoons in a Danish newspaper in 2005 lampooning the Prophet Mohammed ..... "I was very shocked by the pressure that was brought upon us," he said.

"Turkey's evolution in, let's say, a more religious direction, towards a less robust secularism, worries me." This is to put it in the mildest possible way. It's not just a matter of a Turkish political party undermining Turkey's own historic secularism. It is a question of Turkey trying to impose its Islamist and chauvinist policies on another European state—and indeed on the whole NATO alliance. [Slate] Read more

Turkey is not European Will Turkey ever join the EU? Writing in the Guardian, Tariq Ramadan argues that the EU must let the former Ottoman power back into Europe and that they’ve only barred Turkish membership out of fear, xenophobia and, of course, Islamophobia: [telegraph.co.uk] Read more