Will Germany be a Divided Nation Again?

January/February 2011

DJ: Germany is a liberal country. So is the Netherlands. I would like to ask you, Necla, if you personally fear that one day you could share the same fate as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born Dutch parliamentarian who was driven by threats to emigrate to America? Is it possible that there might no longer be room for you in this society, simply because what you say is too controversial and no one stands up to defend you, not even government?

NK: No, I don't fear that. I live differently here. As a Turkish-born person, I have a much greater opportunity to participate in the public discourse than Ayan Hirsi Ali did in Holland. The Arabs are even more remote from the idea of secularism than the Turks. That's one of the relative advantages that I have been so lucky to benefit from. Had I been born in Somalia, things would not have been so easy for me. For about 90 years now, Turkey has been trying to become a secular state and to develop a free society with civil rights for all citizens. In my family, I had the opportunity to experience this. My family really tried to live exactly according to the idea of the republic. I was taught that if I wanted to drink wine during Ramadan, as an individual citizen I had the right to do so, and the state would protect me. If the reaction of the mob in the streets is to persecute me, it is the mob that is the villain, not me for drinking wine. That's what I was taught, and in Istanbul, before I came to Germany in 1968, it was then quite possible to reflect on secularism and to live according to its precepts. It is my endeavour to pass on this vision in debates with my former compatriots. And I have never been threatened personally.

In Germany, the radicalisation of Muslims isn't as serious as in Holland. Together with a group of seven other women and two men, I think we have managed to carry this debate further in a calm and reasoned way. We did it step by step, beginning with the issue of human rights. And the Muslim Turks in Germany seem to have grasped that they have to come up with answers. People don't necessarily agree with me and I have no problem with that. What is essential is that we have an open, civilised debate, without putting your own life at risk. That this is possible here should teach us all some lessons about Germany.

Tags:

Like this article? Share, save or print using the icons below:

Anonymous

May 21st, 2013
9:05 PM

I don't find it very productive to speak of "the Muslims" - what about the successful and well-integrated Pakistanis and Iranians of Germany, who sometimes identify themselves by nationality, sometimes by religion, and sometimes both? That said, she raises valid points that the Muslim community shouldn't be so quick to dismiss, because it's very true that Muslim parents are much more imposing than non-Muslim parents, and that their clasp over children extends far beyond childhood in ways that are neither democratic nor acceptable by Western standards. Whether we should impose Western standards on every facet of Muslim life in Europe? No - look at Europeans abroad; they (variably) respect but do not adopt the values of their non-Western hosts, and to expect more would be unreasonable. Whether the government should interfere where human rights are violated, as in the case of forced marriages? Yes. I personally wouldn't insist that religious communities adopt secularism if they ensured the safety and well-being, at the very least, of non-religious individuals. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case with Islam; where you aren't killed for apostasy, your family abandons you - or worse.

Anonymous

March 5th, 2011
2:03 PM

Although Mrs Necla Kelek's word could land as a harsh, she makes sense. I am a Turk and Muslim and religion has a role to empower the individual. The current version where individual empowerment is lost , where the system takes control is may be incorrectly but for the right reasons displayed as similar to socialism. Whats happening nowadays in many Middle Eastern countries is that individuals are taking power. Its exciting and inspiring. No system on its own can overcome the power of its members. It doesnt work. Communism doesnt work, religious governments also dont work. The gap between developed and developing world will continue to narrow and a system based on individuals rights will arise. Its time for democracy and freedom for every person, be it Muslim, Christian or non believer. We will live in harmony.

Anonymous

February 23rd, 2011
12:02 PM

It's interesting to read the comments by 'Turkish Voice' and Yalcin. I assume that they are Muslim and (possibly also) Turkish. Necla Kelek clearly is a reasoned and reasonable woman, well versed in German, Turkish and specifically Muslim culture. Yet the two Muslim commentators call her 'rude' and 'ignorant', hateful of her own (i.e. the Muslim part) 'people, religion, culture and history' - ending by claiming she's not a Turk or a Muslim in 'the true sense'. How very illuminating. The knee-jerk hostility, the dismissal of any and all reasonable arguments, the dogmatism and finally the assertion that she's not a 'real' Muslim anyway - all beutifully confirms Kelek's argument about what's wrong with the Muslim mindset. Quod Erat Demonstrandum.

julio

February 14th, 2011
1:02 PM

"Germany's historical trauma"??? HAH, germans dont give a damn his historical "trauma"

Anonymous

February 9th, 2011
7:02 AM

The first two commentators have proven Ms. Kelek right about her views.

Yalçın

January 28th, 2011
6:01 AM

All remarks pointed out by Kelek about Islam and Turkey are absolutely senseless and incorrect. She is either fully ignorant or biased concerning Muslims and Turkish culture and society. Her consultation, suggestions, view,etc about Turkish state, population, religion should be avoided by all costs because she is everything but for sure not Turkish and Muslim in true sense.

Turkish voice

January 27th, 2011
5:01 PM

I am quite disappointed about N Kele's remarks concerning Turkey and Islam. It seems that she has no idea at all what Islam and Turkish culture are made of. All of her words, view, and conclusions completely contradicts with Turkish society, government, policy, and etc. Her hate against her own people, religion, culture, history is rather thought-provoking and biased. Therefore, she cannot act as a refree, advisor, authority and consultant on any issue regarding Turkey and Islam. Poor, ignorant, rude woman, she is everything but for sure she represents neither a Turk nor a Muslim.

Tom Phillips

January 6th, 2011
10:01 PM

Anonymous of 8.12 on 31/12/2010( whom I take to be a German from his use of English) has even more to complain of than he thinks :the correct quotation about the purpse of NATO is " to keep the Russians out , the Americans in and the Germans down!"

Anonymous

December 31st, 2010
8:12 PM

In an US-anouncement we have seen following the German flag: Germany - Languages: German, Turkish! As you see this example shows the influence of both US and British interests, which want to have Turkey inside the European Communtiy, as well as the EU-leadership and most of the member countries! Guess: the want to have Turkey inside the EU for weaking Germany, as the history shows in NATO-development: Lord Ismay, British-first Secretary General inside stated the NATO was founded to have the Russians out and the Germans in!

Anonymous

December 31st, 2010
6:12 PM

A question: isnt Karen Horn correspondent of the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" at Moscow, and if, why does she support Necla Kelek and not the corres= pondent of that newspaper stationed at Ankara or Istanbul?

Post your comment

More Dialogue