Secular moderns favor military coup ‘if necessary,' poll suggests
A considerable portion of people in Turkey who define themselves as “secular and modern” back anti-democratic actions, with 58.1 percent of them backing the idea that the military can seize control of the country “if necessary,” according to the latest findings of a monthly opinion poll.
The Ankara-based MetroPOLL Strategic and Social Research Center conducted a survey of people's perceptions on whether “there is government or civil interference in the secular lifestyle.” The poll started with 3,880 respondents and continued with 1,225 of them after a “filter question.” The question was over whether respondents believe that the secular lifestyle in Turkey is in danger. While 53 percent said “no,” 31.6 percent said “yes.” The yea-sayers are considered to be “‘moderns” who are “concerned about their lifestyle," according to the poll.
Respondents were questioned about their perception of democracy. In response to a question whether the military should seize control of the country “if necessary,” 58.1 percent said “yes” while 37.1 percent said “no.” The remaining 4.8 percent declined to comment. The survey also showed that an overwhelming majority of respondents consider the military as “protector” of the secular order in Turkey. Asked whether the military protects secularism and the secular order, 71.7 percent said “yes” and 21.3 percent said “no.” Most respondents were, however, cold toward sending the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) from power “through use of force.” More than 57 percent said they would not support the idea of removing the AK Party from power through use of power if it is not beaten in elections. Slightly more than 34 percent said the contrary.
The survey also showed that “secular moderns” are not tolerant toward pro-Kurdish political parties. For 53.1 percent of respondents, political parties representing Turkey's Kurds should be shut down.
Nearly 34 percent disagreed, and more than 12 percent declined to comment. Several pro-Kurdish political parties have been shut down so far, and many Kurdish politicians have been banned from engaging in politics. In 2009, the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) was shut down on charges of promoting terror.
The party was accused of close ties with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Its deputies resigned and joined a new pro-Kurdish party, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).
Respondents were more tolerant toward political parties that wish to establish a religious-based order in Turkey. A full 57 percent said such political parties should not be closed down, but 29.9 percent said the contrary. More than 78 percent said they would not be disturbed to live with religious people.
Opposed to allowing schooling in Kurdish
In response to a question over whether they would be disturbed to live with Kurds, 74.7 percent of respondents said “no” while 22.1 percent said they would be disturbed. However, 76 percent said they would not favor allowing education in Kurdish in areas where most of the residents are Kurds. Only slightly more than 20 percent said they would favor education in Kurdish in such areas. Nearly 4 percent declined to comment.
Allowing citizens to speak and learn their native languages has been one of most significant issues of debate in Turkey for the last 30 years. Many Kurdish intellectuals, especially BDP deputies, demand that the government allow the Kurdish language to be used in public education. The government, however, gives a cold shoulder to such demands, arguing that allowing education in another language other than Turkish would damage the unitary structure of the republic.
Seventy-four percent of respondents in addition complained that their living standards have deteriorated for the past five years. Nearly 71 percent do not believe that the Turkish economy is improving, and more than 68 percent said Turkey is heading toward a bad future. The survey also found that a majority of respondents are against the idea of selling assets to foreigners and privatization of state-owned assets.
Complaints of pressure on opposition, media
According to 69.5 percent of respondents, AK Party rule is suppressing opposition parties in the country. Critics of the AK Party believe that its leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is also the prime minister, is fighting free of opposition in Turkey. AK Party supporters, on the other hand, believe that Erdoğan is working to expand individual rights and freedoms.
Another 76.1 percent said journalists and writers in Turkey are afraid of freely expressing their opinions due to AK Party rule. More than 17 percent, however, do not agree. More than 78 percent of respondents said they are not afraid of sharing their opinion with their families or friends.
The poll was conducted from Jan. 15-21 by telephone among a random national sampling of 1,225 adults residing in cities, towns and villages. The margin of error for the overall poll was 2.8 percentage points, with a confidence level of 95.
Source:
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