COLOGNE, GERMANY

Fevzi Cebe is what even any fastidious or hard-headed German would be ready to embrace as a "co-citizen": he is fluent in German, with a highly skilled profession, and is a faithful taxpayer. Mr. Cebe received all his studies in Germany as a second-generation son of "gast-Arbeiter" (guest worker) Turkish parents and has become a doctor of medicine, a surgeon, who happens to do financial consulting on the side.

For years I have been attending joint meetings both in Turkey and Germany, listening to unbelievably candid complaints about the Turks who have made Germany their abode. They lead full lives in the big cities of Germany as if living in their small villages in Turkey. Many do not mix with German society, but instead tend to reside with other Turks in ghetto-like neighborhoods, getting their groceries from Turkish markets, eating out at kebab houses, and when the time comes to marry off their offspring, they import brides or bridegrooms from Turkey.

Turkey has changed considerably since the first Turkish laborer set foot in Germany some 40 years ago, but time stopped for many Turkish workers in their adopted country. Very few of the Turks who live in Germany realize the extent of the radical changes which have taken place in Turkey. They resist learning German, take their pleasure by watching Turkish soap operas via satellite TV broadcasts from Turkey, and once in a while commit "honor killings" when they catch a daughter or sister in an illicit love affair.

This is the whining I have been hearing in all the conferences and symposia I have taken part in over the last 20 years.

Here I am, in Cologne, the hub of Turkish existence in Germany, and all the Turks I have been around have a completely different profile. Dr. Fevzi Cebe is no exception as an industrious German citizen of Turkish origin. He and his friends, who have recently established an organization with the name of the Union of European Turkish Democrats (EUTD), are a new voice, and good tidings for both Turkey and Germany. They represent the new face of Turkey under the leadership of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, which would like to carry its influence to wherever Turks live. Germany, with its huge Turkish population, is an apt place to start.

I accompanied Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Cologne for the launching ceremony of the new organization, which he claimed was not established on any ideological premises. During his speech to the members of the EUTD, who numbered around 1,000, all with university degrees and almost all carrying German citizenship, Mr. Erdogan underlined the necessity to adopt their host country’s ways in many fields and urged Turks living and working in Germany to integrate with German society. This constitutes a radical departure from traditional Turkish policy towards Turks outside Turkey; the Turkish state has long resisted integration and found ways to encourage anyone listening to remain aloof from their hostile environments. Furthermore, almost all organizations in Europe set up by the Turks have ideological name tags, and some of them are cash cows for their founders.

The timing of the event cannot have been more opportune, since some regions of France are literally up in flames over ethnic and religious turmoil. The frictions within European countries which have large chunks of Muslim presence in their midst have reached the breaking point, with disintegration and widespread hatred. Especially the youngsters in Paris have taken to the streets and started to burn whatever comes their way. The automobiles burned by Muslim mobs are enough to enlighten a darkened Champs Elysées at night.

This sorry sight is a direct product of the French attitude to its Muslim minorities. Even though Muslims from North Africa have been living in France for more than half a century, they have not been made an integrated part of French society, as they feel alienated and discriminated against and a minor incident was enough for them to rise against the system. Prime Minister Erdogan believes that the revolting masses have grudges against the French state due to its newly enacted law banning headscarves in secondary schools, and I myself believe that the negative attitude of France towards Turkey’s European aspirations has also played a role to break the camel’s back. Not a single Turk has taken part in demonstrations in France, but still the Muslim masses at large have been offended by the French attitude.

Turkey’s new policy towards Turks living and working abroad is a clear indication of a more open-minded approach based on newly gained confidence by the AK Party. With people like Fevzi Cebe who have no qualms about living happily in Germany, intermingling with others, employ German workers in their businesses, earn money and pay taxes, German citizens of Turkish origin pose no threat to the alien society, since the society they live in is not alien for them. They can keep their Turkish identity, and practice their religion, but at the same time can be faithful citizens of the country which has given them shelter, and provided them opportunities to educate themselves and their children and establish businesses.

I wish Ms. Angela Merkel, the incoming German chancellor, had been with us at the launching ceremony or dinner reception afterwards, but instead we had Gerhard Schroeder, the outgoing chancellor. Mr. Schroeder received a standing ovation from the crowd for his courageous and wise stand on Turkey, and thanks to him, Germany will reap the benefits of his "Turkish policy" which will help keep Turks away from any political outburst and rampant violence, unlike Muslim minorities in France now.

After all the conferences and symposia that I have attended over the years and after hearing constant complaints about Turks in Germany, the EUTD member Turks whom I witnessed in Cologne on Sunday were a real relief. With Turks living happily in their adopted countries, we in Turkey can be more confident.

From The New Anatolian, 8 November 2005

 

Ottoman grandeur on display in US capital - November 1 2005 Hopefully, it's not ominous - October 25, 2005 Believe it or not! - October 18, 2005 A revolution, alla Turca - October 11, 2005 Facing the music - October 4, 2005 Donkeys and other lost opportunities - September 27, 2005 Bitter realities - September 21, 2005 Guess who's coming to dinner - September 6, 2005 Finding unity in diversity - August 23, 2005 What's in a name? - August 16, 2005 Alive, well, and kicking - July 26, 2005 To be or not to be - July 19, 2005 It's a mad, mad, mad world - July 12, 2005 Politically correct, Turkish style - July 5, 2005 Non-fiction vs. Fiction - June 28, 2005 Out of sync, out of place - June 21, 2005 My mind's still numb - June 14, 2005 Mr. Erdogan is in Washington - June 7, 2005 I'm innocent - May 31, 2005 Humiliation: Today for me, tomorrow for you - May 24, 2005 If only we had dialogue - May 17, 2005 From Cairo with love - May 10, 2005 Eyeless in Gaza - May 3, 2005 A partner is still needed in Cyprus - April 26, 2005 'My name is State, Deep State' - April 19, 2005 Greed kills - April 12, 2005 From the observation deck - April 5, 2005 The mirror has cracked - March 29, 2005 Remembering things past - March 22, 2005 I invite you to use your imagination - March 15, 2005 A time for encouragement - March 8, 2005 The proof in the pudding - March 1, 2005 Hail to the Columnist! - February 22, 2005 It is in our blood, we do not waver - February 15, 2005 Excuse my question - February 8, 2005 A friend in need - February 1, 2005

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