While I was flicking the channels I saw a talk show about Turkey and their desires to join the European Union and be classified as a European country. The host of the Hard Talk show pushed questions to the Turkish Politician asking why the Turkey wants to be part of the European Union when most of the Christian EU countries did not want turkey to join them. The politician’s answers were quite vague following the lines of better security and co-existence with the Muslim world.

Out of the whole Program the most interesting question asked was about the actions Turkey was taking to make the closer to Europe. Amongst the actions, he explained that the Turkish government had reversed plans to criminalize adultery [zina]. Furthermore he went on saying that two consenting people should be able to do what ever they wish, meaning commit adultery [zina] if they wanted to. I was shocked. I could not believe that a country with such a large Muslim population would go to the lengths of legalizing adultery [zina] just to meet the EU membership criteria.

“They (disbelievers) wish for you to reject faith (Islam) as they have rejected thus you all become equal” [Qur’an 4:89]

Thinking about it afterwards, I did not understand why I was so shocked. After all, the Turkish government has over the last few years banned men from keeping beard at work as well as banned Muslims from praying at work. They were also the first country in the world to ban women from wearing head scarf [burugaa] at collages and universities. All this oppression on its Muslim population just to please the European masters and gain their acceptances I thought. Allah (swt) says: Never will the Jews nor the Christians will be pleased with you till you follow their religion. Say “verily the Guidance of Allah that is the (only) Guidance. And if you were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge, then you would have against Allah neither any Wali (protector or guardian) nor any helper. [Qur’an 2:120]

The companion Ibn Abbas said in commentary of the above verse “even if you were to follow their deen they still will not be pleased with you”.

Even though Turkish Parliament has passed 218 Lows that reform the panel code in accordance with the European Union’s criteria, the dissent from the other European countries remain as hash as always. In the Turkish Governments bid to join the EU not only will it continue to be rejected by the Europeans themselves but it will never be accepted by the Muslims either. It will remain as a rejected nation unless it holds high the banner of Islam and shine like a beacon once again like they did as the head of the Is Islamic empire. To avoid such a shame we Maldivians must be proud to say that we are Muslims or we might be the rejected nation that Turkey is now