How can Turkey’s secular army be any different from Pakistan’s religious system of governance?
KARACHI: This is with reference to the article “Threatened by the headscarf” (November 4) by Khalid Saleem. A proper secularist model for any country boasts a system of governance free of any interference from either the church/mosque or state in each other’s affairs. This ensures fair treatment for all, and equal rights to each and every citizen of a country.
When the president’s own wife is being denied her right to freedom of expression, her right to practice whichever religion she chooses, then what chance would an ordinary citizen of the country have? How can Turkey’s secular army be any different from Pakistan’s religious system of governance then, when freedom of expression, and basic freedom of religion is being trampled upon in both countries?
Or do Turkey’s ‘secular traditions’ include oppression of freedom as well?
Ghausia Rashid Salam
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2010.
