TURKS DISTRUST BOTH FOREIGNERS AND SHARIA LAW

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000098

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SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY -- ADDING ADD'L ADDRESSEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKS DISTRUST BOTH FOREIGNERS AND SHARIA LAW


1. (U) Summary: A poll released in February found that
most Turks are distrustful of foreigners and fearful that
the country will be divided by outside forces. The poll
commissioned by the mainstream Hurriyet newspaper and
conducted by well regarded polling firm Konda Research also
found many Turks worried Islamic law will become the law of
the land. While nearly all respondents supported democracy
at all times, less than half also said the military should
be able to intervene if necessary. The data shows a nation
divided over the role of religion in society. However, the
scales are clearly tilted in favor of those with a more
religious lifestyle. Konda Chairman Erdem pointed to
gender inequities as the basis of all of TurkeyQs societal
ills -- providing results that show prevailing paternal
attitudes towards women. End Summary.

Many Turks still fighting the War of Independence
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2. (U) Results from a 2008 nationwide survey of 6,482
respondents commissioned by Hurriyet newspaper showed Turks
are generally distrustful of outside influences. At a
public unveiling of the poll results, Tarhan Erdem,
Chairman of Konda, stated the survey found nearly eighty
percent of Turks agreed with the proposition that "foreign
governments were the source behind the Kurdish and
southeastern problems". Moreover, about 75 percent of the
respondents opposed foreigners buying land in Turkey, and
roughly the same number said they feared Turkey will be
divided. Columnist Ahmet Insel, of the daily Radikal who
spoke at the release of the poll results, said these
results show there are many Turks who still feel the War of
Independence is ongoing and Turkey needs to continue to be
vigilant against these threats.


3. (U) The survey showed Turks overwhelmingly favoring a
democratic government at all times, yet 48 percent
conversely believes the military needs to have the right to
intervene. Erdem, who noted the poll found that the more
modern, educated, and secular cluster of society was the
most supportive of military intervention, commented that it
was ironic that those who most strenuously claim to support
western values are the most willing to turn their backs on
democracy.

Many are fearful of Sharia Law; Yet Turkish Society
is Religious
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4. (U) The survey found nearly six out of ten respondents
were fearful of Sharia law coming to Turkey, and about the
same number agreeing "state and religious affairs should be
separated". Turkish society, however, is quite religious,
with twoQthirds identifying themselves as either pious or
extremely devout. Over 70 percent of women respondents
said they cover their heads; of which 13 percent said they
wear the "turban" a readily identifiable style of wearing
the headscarf common in urban Turkey and viewed by many as
a political statement.


5. (SBU) In a separate meeting Bekir Agirdir, Manager of
Konda, told us that it is grossly over-simplified to divide
Turkey into religious and secular groups. Deeper analysis
of the data reveals a more complicated society. If you
define society on a purely religious/secular axis, Agirdir
cautioned, the religious sectors clearly outnumber the
secular sectors. Agirdir told us Turkey has become more
polarized since the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) convincingly won the general election in 2007. Prime
Minister ErodganQs language has become more pious since his
victory, sparking a counter-response from secular
columnists and driving the debate into an uneven battle in
favor of those seeking a more religious Turkey. Turkish
society is more balanced if you compare those who want the
country to become more "modern" to those who oppose change,
according to Agirdir. There are many religious Turks who
are educated and want to modernize. These people will back
economic and social reforms, adding their su
pport to the more secular Turks, yet Agirdir believes the
old debate over religion will impede progress; driving a
deeper wedge into society.

Reducing Gender Inequity Necessary to Solve Turkey's Ills
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6. (U) Erdem argued Turkey's patriarchal society is
damaging the nation's development since women are excluded
from significant parts of the economy. Reducing the
inequity is key to ameliorating all of Turkey's other
societal problem, according to Erdem. The poll, however,
showed that this is a large barrier for the nation to
overcome. Nearly 70 percent of the respondents stated that
a woman needs permission from her husband in order to work
outside the house. Nearly 60 percent of the respondents
said women in their househol never are allowed to leave
the house with sleeveess shirts. Erdem pointed to these
results to sow Turkish women are not even free in their
privte lives.


7. (SBU) Comment: The Konda poll add to existing evidence
that Turks harbor very hosile perceptions towards other
counties. A 19-coutry BBC World Service Poll released in
February ound that Turks held some of the most negative
atitudes within the survey toward many foreign counries.
A majority of Turks held negative opinionsregarding most
of the countries mentioned in the oll, including some that
barely capture the attetion of the media such as: India,
South Africa, apan, and Brazil. This blanket distrust of
manynations provides evidence that the "War of
Indepndence" does continue for many Turks. Moreover, the
increasing polarization over religion in societ that
Agirdir noted appears to be another conflit for Turks to
face. The polling results indicat it is not a balanced
fight.

WIENER