土耳其90%的人口為穆斯林，不過土耳其的憲法定義其國家體制為世俗化而非伊斯蘭化的國家。日前在土耳其首都安哥拉聚集二十萬的群眾示威，拒絕土耳其總理Erdogan競選總統一職，這些群眾的理由是總理過於宗教傾向，假如總理當選總統後，可能將推動伊斯蘭化運動，如廣設宗教學校、遵行宗教教育的政策，世俗份子基於捍衛政體的理由，於是才會有如此規模的捍衛世俗政體的運動出現。
新聞來源：半島電視台英文新聞網站
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5457FB19-7BF6-4D8D-8C10-27097EB75609.htm
Turks hold pro-secular protest
Protesters in Ankara on Saturday called for the government to resign, chanting slogans including, "We don't want an imam as president."
"I'm here to prevent Recep Tayyip Erdogan from becoming president,"Serkan Ozcan, an engineer who travelled nearly 600km from Izmir to Ankara to attend the rally, said.
"Never has someone of that mentality been president and never will be."
"Never has someone of that mentality been president and never will be."
Erdogan's party was elected to an overwhelming majority in parliament and can appoint whoever it wants to the presidency.
If he does decide to run, Erdogan's own popularity and his party's firm control over parliament will mean his opponents will have little power to stop him.
Erdogan's party is expected to announce its candidates for the position this month.
'Islamic agenda'
Secularists in the 99 per cent Muslim country fear that if Erdogan, or someone close to him, wins the presidency next month, the government will be able to implement an Islamic agenda without opposition.
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| Protesters gathered in Ankara on Saturday [EPA] |
He has stoked secularist concerns in Turkey by speaking out against restrictions on wearing Islamic-style head scarves in government offices and schools and taking steps to bolster religious institutions.
He also tried to criminalise adultery, but came under criticism for the move and backed down under pressure from the EU.
But the country's pro-secular military maintains a strong influence over Turkish politics and in 1997 generals pressured Erdogan's mentor out of the prime minister's office because he was viewed as excessively religious.
Analysts warn that any serious tensions between the government and the military could have a serious effect on the country's economy.
Saturday's rally was organised by Sener Eruygur, president of the Ataturk Thought Association and a former commander of Turkey's paramilitary forces.
President to step down
The demonstration come after Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Turkey's pro-secular president, told military officers in an address on Friday that "for the first time, the pillars of the secular republic are being openly questioned".
Sezer steps down on May 16 and parliament will elect the new president early next month.
"We hope that someone who is loyal to the principles of the republic, not just in words but in essence, is elected president," general Yasar Buyukanit, the chief of the military, said on Thursday, in a statement widely interpreted as a warning to Erdogan not to run.
Erdogan's government has denied it has an Islamic agenda.
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