Page 38 - A Call for a Turkish-Islamic Union

A CALL FOR A TURKISH-ISLAMIC UNION

the Turkish-Islamic world. It should also be remembered that
Turkey is the heir of the Ottoman Empire, the founder of such a
Turkish Islamic Union which it ruled successfully for over 5 cen-
turies. Turkey has the social infrastructure and state tradition
necessary to fulfill the requirements of this important responsi-

bility. Furthermore, of all Muslim states, it has the best-devel-
oped relations with the West and is therefore ideally placed to
mediate the differences between the West and the Islamic world.
Turkey also has a tradition of compassion and harmony, and
represents the Ahl as-Sunnah belief as the majority of Muslims
believe. All of this makes Turkey the most qualified candidate
for leading the envisaged Turkish Islamic Union.

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