There is a heated debate in Turkey these days over whether the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is furthering democracy or rolling it back. Mustafa Akyol backdaydebate Change image and share on social
While no Muslim worthy of his name would lose his respect for God, the Prophet Muhammad, and other symbols of Islam, he might well refrain from using legal prosecution or violent reaction to those who do not show the same respect. My basis for this claim is nothing other than the holiest source of Islam, the Quran. Mustafa Akyol basisclaimgod share on social
It is beneficial for Turkish democracy that not all religious conservatives are united under one banner. Mustafa Akyol bannerbeneficialconservative Change image and share on social
The main bone of contention is whether Islamic injunctions are legal or moral categories. When Muslims say Islam commands daily prayers or bans alcohol, are they talking about public obligations that will be enforced by the state or personal ones that will be judged by God? Mustafa Akyol alcoholbanbone share on social
Foreign journalists writing about Turkey like to focus on the most fundamental divide in Turkish society: the rift between religious conservatives and secularists. Mustafa Akyol conservativedividefocus Change image and share on social
There are strengths in Islamic tradition. Islam actually, as a monotheistic religion, which defined man as a responsible agent by itself, created the idea of the individual in the Middle East and saved it from the communitarianism, the collectivism of the tribe. Mustafa Akyol agentcollectivismcommunitarianism share on social
Disapproving and boycotting is the Quranic thing to do, whereas violence and threats are not. Mustafa Akyol boycottdisapprovequranic Change image and share on social
Turkey has never been colonized, so it remained as an independent nation after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Akyol colonizeempirefall Change image and share on social
The Qur'an not only lacks any earthly punishment for someone who abandons Islam, it even includes verses that imply that such a change of heart should be a matter of free choice. Mustafa Akyol abandonchangechoice Change image and share on social
Those who hope to nurture genuine religiosity should first establish liberty. Mustafa Akyol establishgenuinehope Change image and share on social