The Rise and Fall of Muslim Democrats in Turkey

Abstract

Starting with its second term in power, AKP’s Islamist outlook made a gradual comeback in its official rhetoric and practice. After it consolidated its power and captured the state in 2011, AKP launched an ambitious project to Islamicise Turkish society and politics. The political regime uses Islam for political gains, especially legitimizing anything they do. During the corruption scandal the common urban legend among the public was that it is true that Erdogan and his associates loundered that money and accumulated that wealth, but they were going to use that money for two noble causes: first, if the Kemalists wanted to close them down then they would establish a government in exile and pursue the development of what they have successfully pursued in Turkey; and second, with that money they were going to help the other Muslim groups outside of Turkey. Erdogan supported people in academic, media, and in businesses were spreading these claims on purpose. Today, the Turkish government has increasingly turned into an Islamist-nationalist one and currently carries some of the most important features of such a regime.