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Are All ‘Turks’ Really Turks?

Mustafa Akyol considers how Turkish identity and citizenship will be defined in the next Turkish constitution.
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmakers and Parliament Chairman Cemil Cicek (rear C) argue during a debate at the parliament in Ankara February 8, 2012. REUTERS/Stringer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS)

At a time when Egypt drafted and ratified its new constitution in just a few months, the would-be new constitution of another country in the region, Turkey, has been staying in limbo for quite a while now. And one of the key obstacles to progress is a heated dispute on a fundamental question: Are all citizens of Turkey really “Turks”?

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