Turkey and Religious Minority Groups

Religious minority groups in Turkey may now have new hope. In a meeting with religious minority group leaders in Turkey on Saturday 15 August 2009, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan promised a broader democratic reforms in the country. Mr Erdogan is known by his opposition to the ethnic nationalism. His government has promised for an equality for all faiths. Indeed the issue of minority rights has been a stumbling block for Turkey's bid to be a member of European Union. On the idea of democratic reforms in Turkey and the respect for all faiths, a report in Washington Post quoted Mr Erdogan saying: "It is now for us essential to embrace all 71.5 million of this nation's people in respect and love....Are there shortcomings in implementation? There are. We will overcome these together in this struggle. I believe this democratic initiative will change many things in this country."