2007年VOA标准英语-Turkish Ruling Party Makes Inroads in Secular R

By Dorian Jones
Diyarbakir
06 August 2007

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Independent candidate Aysel Tugluk  stands before completing registration formalities at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, 29 Jul 2007

In Turkey's general election last month, the Islamic rooted Justice and Development party secured over half the votes in the predominantly Kurdish region in the southeast. That success is being seen by some political analysts² as an indication of an increase in Islamic sentiments among the mostly secular³ Turkish Kurds. From Diyarbakir, Dorian Jones filed this background report for VOA.

Last year, there were demonstrations⁵ throughout the Islamic world, after a Danish newspaper published cartoons that depicted⁶ the prophet Mohammed. While there were similar protests across Turkey, one of the largest demonstrations drew a crowd of about 100,000 people here in Diyarbakir.

According to political observers the size of the protest was surprising because of the city's strongly secular reputation.

One of the organizers of the protest was Serdar Yilmaz. He heads an Islamic human rights group Ozgur Der, and says he believes the demonstration⁴ is an indication of a move toward Islam among the Kurds.

He says "There is a growing anger towards the West, especially with Israel and the U.S. and what's happening in the Middle East. It's fueling the rise in religion, which is becoming stronger in response to a societal need to fill a gap here. This gap has been created by the backwardness of our society and the mass migration⁷ into the cities caused by decades of fighting between the state and Kurdish separatists, that has resulted in a moral degeneration. There are now two powerful forces here: secular Kurdish nationalism which supports the west; and religion."

When the Islamic rooted Justice and Development party won more than half the votes last month in the predominantly Kurdish southeast, the party faithful celebrated⁸ their surprise victory. The result pushed the Kurdish nationalists into second place. The success of the Islamists, according to political observers, was in part due to the support of the region's powerful ancient Islamic sects⁹ or Tariqats (Sufi Orders).

At an evening religious class, Mohamed Akar reads the writing of a Muslim prophet. Across the city, Islamic sects or Tariqats like this one, hold meetings every night. The all male audience of young and old, rich and poor, listen attentively¹⁰.

The Tariqats go back centuries and are widely seen as an intrinsic part of Kurdish cultural life. In the last few years they too have been expanding their influence by building schools offering free education and housing the poor. Speaking with Akar after the class, he says these groups are hoping to build bridges with the West.

"Unlike Hezbollah and other extremists, the main religious sects have entered a positive phase," he said. "They have learned more about democracy and how to voice their concerns using democratic tools. Especially with the democratic reforms introduced [in Turkey] under pressure from the European Union, it has created a space of freedom. But if the E.U. process ends, and U.S. abandons Kurds living in Iraq, then everything can change. There can be a chaos¹¹ and you could see a radicalization of Muslims."

An old teashop buried in the historical quarter of the city sheds some light on how the locals feel about the West. Every night various Islamic intellectuals come here to discuss religion and politics.

As usual, at this gathering¹³ the topic is the West. Strong arguments can be heard on both sides.

Some speak of the positive effects of the European Union in improving human rights for Kurds, along with the argument that American soldiers are protecting their Kurdish brothers in Iraq.

Others point to Turkey's faltering¹⁴ bid to join the E.U. since the 1960s, noting it has made little headway amid rising grassroots opposition¹⁵ within Europe.

In the end, there appears to be little consensus¹⁶ between the two sides, except that the West's policies will continue to be a major factor. This man, who wanted to remain anonymous¹⁷, says what is needed is more understanding.

"If the radical¹² movements increase, that will be because of mis-policies of the West. The West should try to understand the East and the East should try to understand the West," he said.

In the end, how Islam manifests itself here as a moderate or radical force, will be influenced by the policies of Europe and the United States. At the same time, what is happening in the region will also likely have an impact on U.S. and European policies. But whatever direction Islam takes in the region could have far reaching consequences in a strategically important region which neighbors Iran, Iraq and Syria.

1 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

4 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

7 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 sects   

n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had subdued the religious sects, cleaned up Saigon. 他压服了宗教派别，刷新了西贡的面貌。 来自辞典例句

10 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

12 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

13 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

14 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

15 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

16 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

17 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。