Page 340 - A Call for a Turkish-Islamic Union

A CALL FOR A TURKISH-ISLAMIC UNION

Muslims began to achieve their independence. Britain first withdrew
from the Indian subcontinent and then the Middle East. In the Indian

subcontinent, India, West and East Pakistan (later to become
Bangladesh), were created. In the Middle East, the various Arab na-
tions gained their independence. In Southeast, Malaysia and
Indonesia declared their independence in 1965.

At the end of the 1980s the Eastern Bloc disintegrated, and in
1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and many Muslim peoples won
their independence. In Central Asia, the Muslim Turkish nations fi-
nally rid themselves of Russian/Soviet rule after 150 years and be-

came independent republics. The end of communism also freed the
Balkan Muslims. Bosnia-Herzegovina was freed from Serb-domi-
nated Yugoslavia and emerged as a Muslim nation in central Europe,
and Albania was freed from Enver Hoxha's oppressive and blood-

thirsty communist regime.
Except for Muslims living as minorities in various countries or
under occupation (e.g., Palestine and Kashmir), Muslims now rule

themselves. This great political change made it possible to speak of a
Turkish Islamic Union.

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