This has been the primary reason for the abuse and erosion of the Islamic political thought that has been formed throughout history. Islamic thought in modern times, under the influence of the political doctrines modeled on Western political and social sciences, held that it was no big deal if the state operated by Muslims performs as a tool that interferes with everything, considering that the modern state is allowed to penetrate into all spheres of life. The political thought and understanding of the state that makes state intervention possible in all fields is totally foreign to Islam as well as to the historical experience of Muslims.The reasons for the marginalization and exaggeration of tradition, conservatism falling short of perceiving Islam and the current age as well as a lack of confidence vis-à-vis the state and intellectuals should be sought in this. As people feel they are facing interference in their lives and daily habits, they have inevitably developed a sense of isolation and reaction, and this eventually prevented religion and religious thought from perceiving the changing conditions properly and developing a new attitude and approach accordingly. We have experienced at least two concrete consequences of this: the politicization of religion under the influence of modern political thought and the presentation of Islam’s ethical and social ideals as Islamic policies via religious political figures while they had nothing to do with the actual goals of Islamic thought. The strength and recognition of conservative political forms are largely based on this major misperception.
The problems Muslims have been going through under alien regimes have become the primary reason for the emergence of this picture. They came to the conclusion in the aftermath of the transition to a multiparty system that they could introduce changes to the existing instruments in a defensive manner, and this attitude was made visible in the support for rightist parties, which they considered less interruptive. Participatory democracy, recognition of religious freedoms and the protection of fundamental rights and liberties have attracted the interest and attention of the people taking religion seriously. As a result of this recognition, they concluded that they had to take their demands to the political sphere; this is actually the regular path to be followed in any system dominated by normal political life and representative democracy.
However, when those who hold that they could interfere with religion as if none of this had happened pursued improper policies, they faced a democratic reaction; and when this happened, they preferred to call this reaction the politicization of religion and further sought to present this as a colossal mistake and guilt.
A recent recommendation asking for the exhibition and display of the Turkish flag outside mosques is a typical example. Some have even asked for the display of the picture of Atatürk. Hacı Bektaş Veli Association Chairman Dr. Beyzade Özkahraman says: “The lack of a Turkish flag and Atatürk’s picture in mosques is a big failure. There are about 100,000 mosques in Turkey, and the imams working in these mosques are civil servants. The Turkish flag and Atatürk’s picture are displayed in all state institutions; why is this not the case in mosques?” Emin Çölaşan, who used this excerpt in his column, says: “There is a serious issue that needs to be taken into account. The Turkish flag should be displayed in our mosques. If there is legislation banning such display, it should be amended immediately. This will only take a day. Is it reasonable to ban this?” (Emin Çölaşan, Hürriyet, March 22, 2002).
It is not usual practice all around the world to exhibit the picture of a leader in mosques. Let us say we do this. The holders of this view will most probably ask for a moment of silence, the recital of the national anthem or the performance of other nationalist rituals before the start of prayers at the mosques. It is no longer possible to hold that such an offer is made in good faith; obviously, the intention of those who made such a recommendation is to make sure that religion suffers from further repression. The response to the reaction to be staged against two such requests is obvious already, “The bigots who exploit religion are politicizing religion.”
Benzer Haberler 
