Åsa Westlund: A case for Turkey and Islam in Europe

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Published Friday, May 9, 2008 at 19:05
by asa.westlund in European democracy & diversity (93 views and 1 comments)

A couple of months ago I visited Verdun in Northern France. It is an important site for all Europeans. For its historical importance and for what it means for our future. Just outside the town, the battle of Verdun took place during the First World War. It was one of the most important, but also deadliest, battles of the war raging from 21 February until 15 December 1916. The losses in the war in the trenches were enormous. In Verdun, the dead were counted in hundreds of thousands.

To understand Europe today, it is important to visit places like Verdun in order to understand why a closer union among the peoples of our continent are so important. Building and enlarging Europe is essentially about peace and security. One of the most important memorials at Verdun is Douaumont Ossuary were the remains of 13.000 soldiers rest. Around the building there is a vast cemetery with line after line of white crosses. But if you take a closer look you will notice that there are not only crosses. Some are stones turned towards Mecca. Here lays the remains of soldiers of a Muslim faith who gave their lives for France. And yet there is some who says that Islam is not a part of European History. Or of European culture. There is some kind of backlash against Islam going on in the West at the moment. In Europe it seams to have focused on trying to block Turkish membership in the European Union.

The membership of Turkey will not happen tomorrow. Like any other country Turkey must fulfill the criteria for membership. It must respect democratic values and human rights, women’s rights and minority rights. It must have a working economy and be able to implement European legislation. Among other things. But like any other country, if Turkey fulfills the criteria: it should be given full membership in EU.

Tags: blogger of the week, democracy, diversity, EU, multiculturalism

Comments

1. Agree by asa.westlund on Friday, May 9, 2008 at 22:17

Turkey have always been a part of Europe.

 

 

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