Supporting EU Islamic move
BARRY Morrison clearly did not read my letter properly. I was congratulating David Cameron and the Conservative Party for promoting Turkey's membership of the EU.
This policy was first published in Roger Helmer's EU election manifesto in 2009.
While I applaud the sentiment, I think that Turkey has a lot do in order to become a full member and gain all the benefits of the EU that we now take for granted.
I would like to see a just political settlement for their Kurdish minority, and acknowledgement of past wrongs inflicted on their Armenian minority.
Turkey is a secular state and the Conservative Party's commitment to promoting EU expansion into the Islamic world is one that I really do support as a medium- term objective.
ERIC GOODYER Colsterworth
Lincolnshire
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by doug, munich
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:36AM
“Nothing to see here, Turkey ain't coming in anytime soon. Whatever the US wants”
by doug, munich
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:34AM
“nothing to see here, Turkey ain't coming in anytime soon. No matter what the US wants”
by insight., Notts.
Sunday, September 05 2010, 3:53PM
“Encyclopedia Britannica,
The Almohads assumed the title of caliph, introduced a series of severe religious measures, and sought to strengthen their states through religious unification¿i.e., by compelling the Jews and Christians to either convert to Islam or emigrate.”
by Insight., Notts.
Sunday, September 05 2010, 3:44PM
“CONVERT OR LEAVE
In time, Moshe returned to his father's home in Cordova and, for a number of years, continued to study with him there. However, when Moshe was only 13, a group of fanatic Moslems, the Almohades, captured North Africa and penetrated Spain. Wherever the Almohades seized power, they gave the Jews an ultimatum: either convert to Islam or leave your native cities.
When the Almohades overran Cordova, they destroyed all of its synagogues and yeshivos. As a result, thousands of Cordova's Jews left the city and became nomads. A few, though, remained behind, converting on the surface, while continuing to secretly observe the mitzvos.”
by insight., Notts.
Sunday, September 05 2010, 3:16PM
“Janissaries,
(New Soldier, or Troop), member of an elite corps in the standing army of the Ottoman Empire from the late 14th century to 1826. Highly respected for their military prowess in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Janissaries became a powerful political force within the Ottoman state. The Janissary corps was originally staffed by Christian youths from the Balkan provinces who were converted to Isl¿m on being drafted into the Ottoman service. Subject to strict rules, including celibacy, they were organized into three unequal divisions (cemaat, bölükhalk¿, segban) ...
Just giving an insight against the sanitised version of Islam.
The Janissaries were taken from their Christian families at age between 8 and 20 years of age.
I think Muslims were still in Spain when the Janissaries were first used.”