Secularists fear Turkey's move towards Islam

April 30, 2007

Many Turks fear the secular political system put in place by Ataturk is giving way to gradual Islamization. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a close ally of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is the sole candidate for president -- a sign that their AKP party, which has Islamist roots, is taking further hold. More than one million people rallied in Istanbul on Sunday in opposition to Gul's candidacy and in support of secularism. A voiced report on growing political unease in Turkey.