Page 160 - A Call for a Turkish-Islamic Union

A CALL FOR A TURKISH-ISLAMIC UNION

In such a union, the world's Muslims will be in direct touch

with one another, know each other's problems intimately, and help
one another. Separatism, factionalism, and fanaticism will be put
aside for the principle of Muslim unity. The fact that the Islamic
world has not been able to reach consensus among the different
views, systems, and models that characterize its members has pre-
vented it from acting in unity. The proposed union's call for unity
will not be made according to race, economic condition, or geo-
graphical location, and all animosity arising from differences of
race, language, or culture will cease under the umbrella of this

union. Its members' sense of unity will not be based upon the su-
periority of one culture, nation, or group over another, but upon
the spirit of solidarity engendered by equality, compassion, love,
and friendship.
One of the primary reasons for establishing the Turkish Is-
lamic Union is to create a central authority capable of directing the
general Muslim population. For this reason, the central authority

must have a structure that reaches all Muslims or, in other words,
must be able to accommodate all different views under its um-
brella. The Turkish Islamic Union must be based on Islam's central
tenets, receive practical as well as theoretical differences in views
with compassion and understanding, and successfully turn these
differences into cultural diversity and wealth. These differences
must not be allowed to obstruct the application of political will and
joint action. All disputes between Muslim nations must be re-
solved, and their differences must be settled within the framework

of this central authority. An Islamic world that can manage its in-
ternal affairs will be able to resolve potential differences with other
civilizations easily and to produce the joint policies that its central
authority will implement and administer.

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