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The Real Beneficiaries Of Erdogan’s Democracy

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's democratization package has lifted restrictions on devout Sunnis imposed by previous secular governments, pleasing his Islamist constituency.
Sunni Muslims pray in the Blue mosque in Istanbul September 19, 2009. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (TURKEY RELIGION SOCIETY) - RTR281VZ

Some view it as a “silent revolution” while others say “the mountain gave birth to a molehill.” There are also those calling it “treacherous” because it whittles away at core values for Turkish nationalists.

How one views Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's “democratization package,” which he announced to a riveted nation on Monday, Sept. 30, depends on one’s political outlook in an increasingly polarized Turkey. The reasons for considering the package in a positive or a negative light are listed in the extensive coverage on the topic by Al-Monitor.

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