Turkey: Army fires ”Islamist” officers

Internation Herald Tribune, August 5, 2007

ISTANBUL: Turkey's secular military expelled 10 officers for being reactionary — a euphemism for religious activities — along with 13 others accused of lack of discipline, a military official said Sunday.

The military, which has historically shielded Turkey's secular character, ousted the 10 officers for "reactionary activities," the official said speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.

The phrase "reactionary activities," is a common way for many Turks to refer to alleged ties to religious groups or a religious agenda seen as a threat to the nation's secularist tradition.

It was the first time the Higher Military Council had disclosed the number of those expelled on this specific allegation. In the past, it only released the total number of dismissed officers and gave no details on the reason for the expulsions, daily Milliyet newspaper said.

Daily Zaman newspaper, known for its religious readership, reported that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul had signed the council decision but that they disagreed with it ...

The military has expelled hundreds of officers for alleged ties to leftist or Islamist groups since 1996.

More: Herald Tribune, Al Bawaba

Sounds like the army is getting edgy in Turkey. That is now their last line of defence against Islamists. Meanwhile in dumb-ass Australia we have calls for hijabs in the Reserves:

Young Muslims urged to enlist

May, 2007

YOUNG Australian Muslim women will be targeted to join the Army Reserve and prove they are part of the national security "solution".

The plan by Sydney Muslim leader Jamal Rifi - which has been welcomed by the Australian Defence Force - is designed to break down barriers between Islam and mainstream Australia. It also aims to revive an element of Islamic culture that saw men and women fighting "side by side" during the days of the prophet Mohammed.

Dr Rifi, president of Lakemba Sports and Recreation Club in Sydney's southwest, said he wanted "hijab-wearing" women between the ages of 17 and 26 to become reservists and would soon begin promoting the idea to Muslim parents on Arabic and Islamic radio networks to urge them to let their kids join.

"I will be encouraging Arab-speaking Australians to join overall, but I will concentrate mainly on the Muslim community," he told The Australian yesterday.

More: the Australian

Keep hijabs out of the forces.