The European Union, Turkey and Islam
Islam does not form a hindrance to Turkey’s admission to the EU, according to the WRR report The European Union, Turkey and Islam (Report no. 69, 2004). There is also no evidence that implementing the reforms desired by the EU would endanger the existence of a secular democratic state in Turkey in the future.
Characteristics of Turkish Islam
There is no such thing as ‘the Islam religion’ and ‘the Muslim’, according to the WRR. Islam in Turkey has a great many different streams, just as Christianity does. Those streams are determined to a great extent by Turkey’s history and context. The same applies for the political manifestations of Islam in Turkey. The Turkish people show little regard for fundamentalism and religious intolerance. Like the EU, they want greater prosperity, greater democracy and greater freedom of religion.
The democratic state also has deep roots in Turkey
Islam has no control over the current state system in Turkey. The law and the legal system are based on the same secular principles as those in the EU member states. However, the state’s control of religion does go further in Turkey. This is a legitimate reason for the EU to urge Turkey to take a ‘more relaxed approach’ towards religion and to loosen its control over it.