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[THREAD]
1/12
When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dismantled the Ottoman Caliphate, Turkey was a social and ideological mess. The kind of mess you'd expect from a theocracy. The road to reforms wasn't going to be easy, nor pleasant. But Atatürk's determination was from another world.
![[THREAD]1/12When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dismantled the Ottoman Caliphate, Turkey was a social and ideological mess. The kind of mess you'd expect from a theocracy. The road to reforms wasn't going to be easy, nor pleasant. But Atatürk's determination was from another world.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVDwPJzU8AARYvv.jpg "[THREAD]1/12When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dismantled the Ottoman Caliphate, Turkey was a social and ideological mess. The kind of mess you'd expect from a theocracy. The road to reforms wasn't going to be easy, nor pleasant. But Atatürk's determination was from another world.")
1/12
When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dismantled the Ottoman Caliphate, Turkey was a social and ideological mess. The kind of mess you'd expect from a theocracy. The road to reforms wasn't going to be easy, nor pleasant. But Atatürk's determination was from another world.
2/12
Atatürk's reforms were swift, abrupt, and radical. In hindsight, you'd appreciate that that's probably the only viable way forward if you were to uproot regression nourished over centuries in the longest surviving absolute monarchy of human history.
Atatürk's reforms were swift, abrupt, and radical. In hindsight, you'd appreciate that that's probably the only viable way forward if you were to uproot regression nourished over centuries in the longest surviving absolute monarchy of human history.
3/12
When Atatürk extended full suffrage to Turkish women in 1934, the privilege was still a decade away even in a progressive France. A lot of other changes followed, changes that would today be labelled "draconian" by the Muslim world.
When Atatürk extended full suffrage to Turkish women in 1934, the privilege was still a decade away even in a progressive France. A lot of other changes followed, changes that would today be labelled "draconian" by the Muslim world.
4/12
Ottoman Turkey was a theocracy with reasonable autonomy to the various religious communities (millets). Each millet was governed by its own religious jurisprudence, e.g. Sharia, Catholic Canon, Jewish Halakha, etc.
Ottoman Turkey was a theocracy with reasonable autonomy to the various religious communities (millets). Each millet was governed by its own religious jurisprudence, e.g. Sharia, Catholic Canon, Jewish Halakha, etc.
5/12
The Ottomans did attempt to introduce a degree of uniformity and secularism to their legal system but the clerics wouldn't let them get far. All that changed in 1924. Right on this day, April 8 (this date is important). Atatürk, in one abrupt blow, abolished Sharia.
The Ottomans did attempt to introduce a degree of uniformity and secularism to their legal system but the clerics wouldn't let them get far. All that changed in 1924. Right on this day, April 8 (this date is important). Atatürk, in one abrupt blow, abolished Sharia.
6/12
This was the single biggest piece of reform in a nation hitherto governed by a 600-year-old theocratic monarchy. And yet Turkey accepted it. This was just the beginning. More followed. Superstition, religious therapy, and quackery became penal offenses overnight.
This was the single biggest piece of reform in a nation hitherto governed by a 600-year-old theocratic monarchy. And yet Turkey accepted it. This was just the beginning. More followed. Superstition, religious therapy, and quackery became penal offenses overnight.
7/12
You could no longer wear religious insignia in public. So out went hijab, fez, and turban. The State was walled out of religion with zero room for exceptions. Schools were no longer gender-segregated. Basically, Turkey was finally and confidently out of the Bronze Age.
You could no longer wear religious insignia in public. So out went hijab, fez, and turban. The State was walled out of religion with zero room for exceptions. Schools were no longer gender-segregated. Basically, Turkey was finally and confidently out of the Bronze Age.
8/12
Almost a century down the line today, this oasis of secularism stands on the verge of unhinged regression led by Erdoğan, a man who sees LGBT rights as anti-Islam, romanticizes the Ottomans, and draws inspiration from anti-Semitic literature.
Almost a century down the line today, this oasis of secularism stands on the verge of unhinged regression led by Erdoğan, a man who sees LGBT rights as anti-Islam, romanticizes the Ottomans, and draws inspiration from anti-Semitic literature.
9/12
The biggest blow to Atatürk's vision came when Erdoğan decided to help a revolution some 500 miles away in Syria. Unlike Atatürk's, this revolution was to RESTORE the Caliphate. Erdoğan had no skin in the game, but he played anyway. To help "whoever replaces Assad."
The biggest blow to Atatürk's vision came when Erdoğan decided to help a revolution some 500 miles away in Syria. Unlike Atatürk's, this revolution was to RESTORE the Caliphate. Erdoğan had no skin in the game, but he played anyway. To help "whoever replaces Assad."
10/12
On this very day in 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq entered a merger with Syria's al-Nusra Front and inaugurated its Syrian theater. Under the more popular name abbreviated as ISIS. Till date, the group has claimed north of half a million lives in its quest for Caliphate.
On this very day in 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq entered a merger with Syria's al-Nusra Front and inaugurated its Syrian theater. Under the more popular name abbreviated as ISIS. Till date, the group has claimed north of half a million lives in its quest for Caliphate.
11/12
Why this thread? Religious fundamentalism is a cancer. Not only because it kills but because it persists. Takes forever to dismantle, but only a moment to restore. What Atatürk did to Turkey, Nehru tried with India. At least to an extent.
Why this thread? Religious fundamentalism is a cancer. Not only because it kills but because it persists. Takes forever to dismantle, but only a moment to restore. What Atatürk did to Turkey, Nehru tried with India. At least to an extent.
12/12
Unfortunately just like Turkey, we also now have an Erdoğan threatening to undo seven decades of secularism. India ought to be very careful of what it wishes right now.
Unfortunately just like Turkey, we also now have an Erdoğan threatening to undo seven decades of secularism. India ought to be very careful of what it wishes right now.
